Independent Angolan diving services company OCTOMAR Serviços Marítimos Limitada has taken delivery of its first vessel from the Damen Shipyards Group; a Fast Crew Supplier (FCS) 2206. The vessel was selected for its ability to undertake a variety of roles, including supporting diving operations and deploying an observation class ROV operations to undertake subsea inspections and repair and maintenance work on offshore facilities. OCTOMAR’s FCS 2206 – OCTOSTAR will also be used to transport passengers and act as a standby and security vessel.
The 22-metre FCS 2206 is the new improved version of the successful FCS 1905, and 11 of the new model have already been delivered worldwide. Key features include excellent seakeeping thanks to the Sea Axe bow, low fuel consumption and the highest safety standards. Built in aluminium at Damen Shipyards Singapore, it can sustain speed of up to 30 knots.
Additional equipment specified by OCTOMAR included an external firefighting system, dedicated davits for the launch and recovery of divers and the observation class ROV and night observation gear.
“We are very pleased with its performance so far,” said Ricardo do Amaral, General Manager of OCTOMAR. “We selected the FCS 2206 based on the high quality of the construction, its proven reliability and the after-sales service package.”
Shipbrokers Clarksons Platou, Mr Simon Pethick, played an integral part in concluding this transaction between Damen and Octomar further enhancing the focus on Local Content Development within Angola.
Damen Shipyards Group
Damen Shipyards Group operates 36 shipbuilding and repair yards, employing 12,000 people worldwide. Damen has delivered more than 6,500 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers around 175 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, winches, 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, including the longest, 420 x 80 metres, and the widest, 405 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.