Damen Shipyards Group has delivered a Fast Crew Supplier (FCS) 2610 workboat, named AOS Swift for the UAE-based Atlantic Maritime Group (AMG), a provider of marine logistic services, ship repair, fabrication and other marine services.
 
The Middle East will use the first Damen Twin Axe vessel for safe passenger and crew transfer as well as for the transport of industrial persons, materials and equipment to unmanned offshore platforms in the Strait of Hormuz, said a statement from the company.

Within less than three months, and this includes the vessel’s transportation from Damen Shipyards Gorinchem, the shipyards group has customised, commissioned and delivered the stock vessel, it said.

Damen signed the contract with AMG, in the UAE, on June 1, and the vessel will be chartered to a Norwegian oil and gas company for its platform operations Offshore Oman, it added.

AMG ordered this workboat due to its reliability in rough water conditions with a high operational speed of 25 knots maximum, said the statement.

A total of around 35 industrial persons are transported to and from the platform daily, and although the availability of a heliport on the unmanned platform, it is much more efficient and comparatively less costly to carry out transportation of personnel by sea, it said.

The 25.75 metre long workboat’s twin hull design features robust fendering, as well as a gas detection has also been installed and extra air-conditioning units were needed for the Middle East climate zone.

Additionally, this FCS workboat is equipped with an additional hydraulically-operated 2200 kg crane with a reach of 8.6 m and has deck space for two 20 ft containers, and is also equipped with a GPS Plot self-managed man overboard system and a Jason cradle for emergency personnel recovery. The workboat houses a total of 35 passengers plus crew, with accommodation ideally situated at the aft of the vessel for comfort.  

David Stibbe, Business Development Manager, Damen, said: “Damen specialises in broader marine access in the offshore wind and oil and gas industries.”

“We see a large potential in this marine access market to reduce costs and improve logistics as well as to partially replace helicopter flights which can be expensive and less efficient. And some unmanned platforms are without heliports and only have marine access,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service