The close working relationship between Delta Marine and the Damen Shipyards Group has produced a new vessel design – called a Damen Renewables Service Vessel 3315. The Scotland-based offshore wind service provider recently awarded Damen a construction contract looking towards a launch in early 2017, the Dutch shipbuilder said Wednesday in a press release.
“For the last couple of years we’ve been working on this new design with Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld,” says Delta Marine General Manager Dave McNaughtan. “We came up with concepts – gave them to Damen, who would put those ideas on the drawing board. They gave their expertise – adding the engineering for example – and then came back to us.”
“Damen are very good at developing their vessels,” continues Mr McNaughtan. “Even their established vessels like Multi Cats and Shoalbusters are continually getting better.” The new design, having evolved from a Multi Cat, proves his point: “We have changed the design by moving the wheelhouse forward and leaving the aft deck open. Crucially, we’ve managed to keep it under the 500-tonne mark. This was a critical factor – one that will help keep the costs down.”
The Renewables Service Vessel 3315 will be able to take on a lot of the work larger offshore construction vessels currently perform, says Mr Naughton. "We'll have full DP2 capability and, with such a wide deck, we'll be able to fit a cable lay carousel, work class ROVs or cable trenching machines." The vessel will also be fitted with two large HS Marine cranes and a 4-point mooring system.
Following fabrication of the hull in Poland, Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld in the Netherlands will complete the final outfitting process. With the launch scheduled for Q1 2017, the Delta Marine team are looking forward to taking delivery: “With Damen, you get more than quality. You also get the excellent backup of the whole organisation. And that is worth its weight in gold to us.”
Damen Shipyards Group operates 32 ship- and repair yards, employing 8,000 people worldwide. Damen has built more than 5,000 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers approximately 180 vessels annually to customers worldwide.