Damen Launches Wind Farm Service Vessels for SeaZip

Last week, two twin axe catamarans of the successful Damen FCS 2610 type have been launched at Damen’s newbuilding yard in Singapore. Both vessels will be completed in the coming weeks after which they will be transported to the Damen yard in Gorinchem, The Netherlands where they will be delivered to SeaZip Offshore Service coming September.

The Damen FCS 2610 Catamaran:

The Damen FCS 2610 Catamaran type was successfully introduced to the market one year ago. Today four vessels are trading in the North Sea/German Bight area dealing with the most challenging circumstances day in, day out.

The Damen FCS 2610 catamarans have much to offer to the market:

• The proven qualities of the Damen Axe-bow are of much added value to Damen’s Catamaran. It results not only in an above average (and maintainable) service speed of 22 knots but also in much better sea keeping characteristics. The Damen FCS 2610 simply is more seaworthy than 99% if the service catamarans operating today and therefore much more suitable to perform in the offshore wind market. It has proved to both safe and workable to transfer personnel up to significant wave heights of 2,4 m.
• Their multipurpose character allows for effective utilisation in a wide variety of jobs.
• Building the Damen vessels under full class and the Dutch quality Flag will result in more product quality, will offer SeaZip’s clients higher standards and more comfort level and will allow for service at greater distances from shore.

It can thus be concluded that the Damen FCS 2610 Catamaran offers clear competitive advantages.

About SeaZip Offshore Service:

SeaZip Offshore Service was founded in 2010 by the shipping entrepreneurs J.R. Arends and S. D. Schakelaar to respond to demand from the rapidly expanding European wind energy market. The company focuses on the development and operation of specialized service vessels, mainly for the transfer of personnel and goods to and from offshore wind farms. The company motto expresses this ambition: making renewable energy accessible.

Based on SeaZip’s market research, some 130 offshore wind service vessels are available to the market today and some 30 vessels are on firm order. Knowing that the offshore wind market is bound to grow with some 30% annually, it may come as no surprise that the (upcoming) available fleet of service vessels is totally insufficient to meet market demand. It is the offshore wind industry’s own prediction that some 250 new service/crew vessels are needed if the industry is to meet its 2020 objectives.

The industry’s ‘work horse’ for the many parks located near to shore will remain the popular service catamaran. However, the first generation of relatively small sized catamarans will be outclassed by the new generation of much larger and more seaworthy catamarans that will be able to perform more reliable in more challenging circumstances. During the last year, it could be witnessed that several initiatives were taken to design and develop a new generation of catamarans in the class between 18,5 m. and 24 m. Damen’s FCS 2610 Catamaran can be regarded to be the most innovative new development in the market for larger, faster and more seaworthy service catamarans.

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