Scottish Firm Orders Twin Axe Fast Crew Suppliers, Speedy New Offshore Cats from Damen

MCS Sirocco, image courtesy Damen

Scotland-based Maritime Craft Services (Clyde) Ltd announced today they have placed a £8.9 million order with Damen Shipyards for three more Damen Twin Axe Fast Crew Suppliers just months after taking delivery of its first FCS 2610 catamarans. Based in Largs, Ayrshire (UK), MCS signed for three Twin Axes in November. The vessels will be delivered in the first quarter 2013.

The three boats will be used to service MCS’s offshore energy operations in Germany and Denmark, as well as at home and are expected to create 30 new jobs and generate up to €4 million (approximately £3.2 million) turnover per year.

With more than 30 years of experience, the Scottish firm operates a 16-strong fleet of tugs and workboats internationally and already has several Damen vessels including Multi Cats, Shoalbusters and Dredge Helpers. MCS has been active in the offshore wind market for many years but decided to enter the crew transfer market in 2011.

The company’s first Twin Axe FCS 2610, MCS Sirocco was delivered in April this year and the second, MCS Pampero is awaiting a heavy lift carrier in Singapore and is due to arrive in Rotterdam before the end of the year.

This is a matter of pride for Scotland

Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond comments, “These three new vessels will take Scottish expertise and know-how into the waters off Germany and Denmark, proving once again the extent of Scotland’s prominence in the global renewables industry.

The news that MCS is investing €11 million in expanding its operations off continental Europe reflects Scotland’s leading role in offshore renewables both at home and abroad.

This investment exemplifies how Scottish companies – with some public support, and even more hard work and talent – can achieve success in European markets.”

New Twin Axe standard

Arjen van Elk, Damen Sales Manager North, West & South Europe, says that these latest two MCS vessels are built according to the new “Damen standard” FCS 2610, which has evolved and is now outfitted with a larger wheelhouse and superstructure, providing more accommodation space than the first models.

The Twin Axe design is a further development of Damen’s pioneering and highly successful Sea Axe concept. This unique hull form provides excellent seakeeping behavior and means that the vessel can travel at full speed (26 knots), while still providing a safe and comfortable ride for the crew.  The vessel can easily handle 2.5 m significant wave heights, without losing any performance and extensive tests have proven that the vessel reduces bow slamming entirely under certain conditions.

Offshore Wind standard

Introduced to the market in June 2011, the Damen Twin Axe Fast Crew Supplier 2610 is already establishing itself as “the industry standard” in the offshore wind industry when it comes to a number of maintenance tasks. Damen was delighted when a major wind turbine manufacturer recently put out a tender requiring that companies deploy Twin Axe vessels when handling its turbines. Damen is the only manufacturer of this type of catamaran, which was developed in close cooperation with the Delft University of Technology and other scientific research institutes.

Although the vessel has been eagerly adopted by the offshore wind industry, the vessel is suitable in multiple roles and provides a very stable platform for diving support for instance. It can easily be converted back into a basic crew supplier overnight.