Keel laid for the first of Damen’s revolutionary new FCS 7011 Crew Change
Two and a half years on from the genesis of the FCS 7011 concept in response to extensive feedback from the offshore energy sector, the build of the first of this revolutionary design has begun at Damen Shipyards Antalya, Turkey. This milestone, the result of many thousands of hours of discussions, development work, engineering and cross-industry collaboration, was marked by a traditional keel-laying ceremony held at the yard, the company said in its release.
70 metres in length, it will be the largest monohull vessel to be built in aluminium by Damen and is scheduled for launch in August 2020. A prospective client can realistically look forward to delivery by the end of that year.
The FCS 7011 represents the future of crew change. It promises to offer greater efficiencies than ever before through its ability to carry larger numbers of personnel – up to 250 – greater distances – 200nm and more – at speeds of up to 40 knots. The integration of technologies including stabilisers, active interceptors and marine access systems will ensure that the men and women on board are delivered safe, well rested and ready for immediate work. While the design of the vessel allows it to operate in a wider range of weather conditions than conventional fast crew vessels, its capacity, speed and range means that multiple offshore installations can be served in a single round trip, thereby delivering substantial savings in both time and operational costs.
Developed in close cooperation with the offshore energy sector, as the concept becomes reality interest in operating and chartering is building from both the oil & gas and renewables sectors. Momentum for exactly this type of vessel is growing rapidly as the oil majors recognise the benefits to be gained by scaling up crew deliveries in terms of size, serviceability, flexibility and safety. Customer interest is such that Damen expects that within a few years a number of FCS 7011 vessels will be operating on both sides of the Atlantic and elsewhere.
Damen Shipyards Antalya is the ideal location for the build of the FCS 7011. A leader in the build of high-speed craft in both composites and aluminium, it also has experience in larger passenger vessels with recent projects including a 55-metre RoPax Fast Ferry and a Yacht Support Vessel.
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.
