Nigeria-based Homeland Integrated Offshore Services said it has signed a contract with Damen Shipyards Group for its sixth Damen 3307 Patrol Vessel.

The vessel will be another milestone collaboration between the companies, who have been in cooperation since Damen delivered Homeland’s first 3307 Patrol Vessel in 2014, said a statement from the company.

The vessel named, Guardian 6, will join its sister vessels in the Gulf of Guinea providing security services to oil majors operating in the region. It will perform roles such as deterring and intervening in piracy attacks, it said.

Additionally, it will carry out crew transfers and equipment deliveries. Homeland is approved and registered by the Government of Nigeria to provide private maritime security services, it added.

The Damen 3307 Patrol Vessel is based on Damen’s proven Fast Crew Suppler (FCS) 3307 and benefits from the design’s outstanding seakeeping behaviour, rapid acceleration and high top speed. Fitted out as standard, the vessel can carry up to sixteen military personnel along with their equipment, said a statement.

Homeland has selected a number of optional custom features for their vessel. This includes incorporation of a fast rescue craft, fuel trax electronic fuel monitoring system and a self-cleaning fuel separator.

Homeland’s chief executive officer Dr Louis Ekere said: “I’d like to thank Damen for the continued cooperation, which goes beyond the simple client-supplier relationship. We have a genuine collaboration that involves knowledge and technology sharing to the benefit of all parties.”

“The synergy has continued to grow the capacity of Nigerian indigenous companies in line with the objectives of the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMD) of the Federal Government to grow the local content capacity and many people benefit from employment opportunities, both during the build and in the operation of this vessel,” he said.

Damen regional director Africa Harm Blaauw said: “Homeland is a very important client of ours in Nigeria, with a very well organised management structure.”

“We would like to express our sincere gratitude towards Homeland for the pleasant relationship over the past few years and we are looking forward to working together on a further expansion of the Homeland fleet and presence in the Nigerian maritime sector,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service