On Monday 29 August a contract was signed by Jos van Woerkum, Managing Director of Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld, and Willem-Harm Mastenbroek, owner and managing director of V.O.F. Sleepboot ISA, for the delivery of a new Damen Shoalbuster 2709, the company said in its press release.
Based in Wijk bij Duurstede in the Netherlands, the company has undertaken projects across north west Europe and as far east as the Caspian Sea. The new Shoalbuster is replacing a 30-metre, multi-purpose, anchor handling tug and will be available for work all over the world.
The Damen Shoalbuster 2709 is a highly versatile workboat 27 metres in length and with a beam of 9 metres, yet despite its compact size this version will have a bollard pull of 41.2 tonnes. The draught however is just 2.6 metres, making it ideal for manoeuvres in shallow waters. The deck gear includes a 5.5 tonnes at 18.5 metres AKC knuckle crane, an anchor handling winch and a tugger winch. The vessel has quarters for up to seven people across five cabins plus a galley/mess area. The Shoalbuster 2709 has been in production for just over five years and is a popular design due to its size and capabilities.
Willem-Harm Mastenbroek gained experience with a Damen Shoalbuster when working with a previous employer and since the establishment of his own company had been looking forward to acquiring one of his own. This year the right conditions, including a vessel in stock at Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld ready for finishing, came together and the deal was done. The naming ceremony is planned for later this year.
“We’re very pleased to be welcoming a new customer to the Damen family,” commented Jos van Woerkum. “V.O.F. Sleepboot ISA is well respected in the market and it’s always a pleasure to work with owner/operators.”
Mr Mastenbroek added: “My experience with Damen vessels dates back to my first employer, and it was then that I also met Jos van Woerkum for the first time. Ever since then I have looked forward to owning my own Damen ship. When we began looking for a replacement for our previous tug in June this year we looked at several options, but when I met with Jos van Woerkum again he told me about the Damen Shoalbuster 2709 which Damen had in stock. I knew from my previous experience that Damen builds very good vessels that keep their value for a long period of time. Damen also has a track record of creating all-round workboats which makes them very cost efficient. Now that we have the ship that I always wanted, she will be deployed on a worldwide basis, as we did with our previous vessel.”