Walsh & Sons selects Damen Multi Cat for long-term goals

UK-based construction services provider S. Walsh & Sons has ordered a Multi Cat 1908 from Damen Shipyards Group. After finalising a number of modifications, Damen will deliver the 19-metre long vessel ten weeks after receiving the order.

Part of the GRS Group, S. Walsh & Sons is London’s premier construction partners, delivering end-to-end materials handling services to the UK civil engineering and construction industries. This comprises excavation, freight (marine, rail and road), materials processing, environmental management, and land remediation. The company has been active for more than 50 years in civil engineering related activities in and around London, working on high-profile projects such as Tilbury Docks, Crossrail, National Grid Power Tunnels, and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

Equipped with a crane and a large deck space for her size, the new Multi Cat 1908 will serve as a true all-rounder in the S. Walsh & Sons fleet. “The new Damen Multi Cat will be a formidable addition to our expanding fleet on the river Thames,” commented GRS Group Chief Executive Jon Fisher. “We chose this vessel for its versatility – we can use it as a tug to push or pull barges loaded with construction materials. Or as a crane vessel working off the side – loading steel or placing cable, for example.”

Safety played a critical part in Walsh’s decision to order the Multi Cat 1908. The high wheelhouse with 360 degree visibility allows diverse vessels to be towed or manoeuvred safely and efficiently.

Referring to the company’s long-term goals for its operations on the River Thames, Mr Fisher mentioned the anticipated increase in cargo movements in the coming decades. “We expect the Thames to become a superhighway with anything from 60 to 80 million tonnes of cargo moving in and out of London each year. The acquisition of this multi-purpose vessel is part of our long-term vision.”

The SWS Endurance is an excellent example of Damen’s ‘building for stock’ strategy. “First of all, we were able to go out on sea trials before we placed the order. And then we can take delivery within ten weeks of ordering,” stated S. Walsh & Sons Marine Director Mark Robinson. “We are happy to be working with Damen again to deliver a diverse and safe working marine fleet for the future projects we will be involved in. Our ‘Damen experience’ has been absolutely fantastic throughout this whole process.”

“Damen is committed to the UK workboat sector,” added Frederik van der Linde, Damen’s UK Sales Manager. “We are looking forward to adapting the Multi Cat to meet S Walsh & Sons’ requirements and seeing this vessel in operation on the River Thames.”



S Walsh & Sons
S Walsh & Sons is part of GRS, Britain’s largest independent trader and transporter of construction aggregates and waste materials along with associated services. Over 50 years GRS has developed a locally-focused, service-driven business, expanding to more than 75 locations nationwide. GRS is a supplier to many of Britain’s high-profile infrastructure projects and leading builders’ merchants. GRS has been named among the highest climbers the Sunday Times Top Track 250 growth companies for three years running.

Damen Shipyards Group
Damen Shipyards Group operates 35 shipbuilding and repair yards, employing 12,000 people worldwide. Damen has delivered more than 6,000 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers some 160 vessels annually to customers worldwide. Based on its unique, standardised ship-design concept Damen is able to guarantee consistent quality.

Damen’s focus on standardisation, modular construction and keeping vessels in stock leads to short delivery times, low ‘total cost of ownership’, high resale values and reliable performance. Furthermore, Damen vessels are based on thorough R&D and proven technology.

Damen offers a wide range of products, including tugs, workboats, naval and patrol vessels, high speed craft, cargo vessels, dredgers, vessels for the offshore industry, ferries, pontoons and superyachts.

For nearly all vessel types Damen offers a broad range of services, including maintenance, spare parts delivery, training and the transfer of (shipbuilding) know-how. Damen also offers a variety of marine components, such as nozzles, rudders, anchors, anchor chains and steel works.

Damen Shiprepair & Conversion (DSC) has a worldwide network of eighteen repair and conversion yards of which twelve are located in North West Europe. Facilities at the yards include more than 50 floating and (covered) drydocks, the largest of which is 420 x 90 metres, as well as slopes, ship lifts and indoor halls. Projects range from the smallest simple repairs through Class’ maintenance to complex refits and the complete conversion of large offshore structures. DSC completes around 1,300 repair and maintenance jobs annually, both at yards as well as in ports and during voyage.