First Damen Twin Axe workboat for offshore platform passenger and crew transfer in the Middle East
Damen Shipyards Group has delivered a Damen Fast Crew Supplier (FCS) 2610 workboat, named AOS SWIFT for the Atlantic Maritime Group on 20 August 2015. This is the first Damen Twin Axe vessel to be used in the Middle East 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. Within less than 3 months, and this includes the vessel’s transportation from Damen Shipyards Gorinchem, Damen has customised, commissioned and delivered the stock vessel. Damen signed the contract with Atlantic Maritime Group, in the United Arab Emirates, on 1 June 2015. The vessel is going to be chartered to a Norwegian oil and gas company for its platform operations Offshore Oman.
Atlantic Maritime Group FZE ordered this workboat because it is reliable in rough water conditions with a high operational speed of 25 knots maximum.
Up to 35 industrial persons are transported to and from the platform daily. Although there is a heliport on the unmanned platform, it is much more efficient and less costly to do personnel transfer by sea. “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,” explains Damen Business Development Manager David Stibbe.
The vessel was shipped from Damen Shipyards Gorinchem to Damen Shipyards Sharjah for further customisation and outfitting. The 25.75 metre long workboat’s twin hull design features robust fendering. A gas detection has also been installed and extra air-conditioning units were needed for the Middle East climate zone. This FCS workboat is also equipped with an additional hydraulically-operated 2200 kg crane with a reach of 8.6 metres and has deck space for two 20ft containers. The vessel 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.
Three of these Damen FCS 2610 workboats are used for the oil and gas industry worldwide; the other two are employed in the North Sea. In addition to personnel transfer, these vessels perform safety standby and logistics services.