Fourth Damen 3307 Patrol Vessel delivered to Homeland Integrated Offshore Services
Homeland Integrated Offshore Services Ltd (Homeland) of Lagos, Nigeria, has taken delivery of another DAMEN 3307 Patrol Vessel for operations in the offshore oil fields in the Gulf of Guinea, DAMEN said in its press release. This takes the total delivered vessels/Guardians since the first arrived in early 2014 to four. Guardian 4 has joined its three sister ships in providing security services to the oil majors active in Nigeria’s territorial waters, together with additional support services including crew transfers and equipment deliveries.
Homeland is one of the few Government-approved, private maritime security companies operating in Nigeria with a valid MOU with the Nigerian Navy, and the arrival of the fourth Guardian adds significantly to its ability to meet its goal of providing turnkey security services that include deterrence of and intervention in piracy attacks, so as to make the offshore environment safer for the benefit of all legitimate stakeholders.
The DAMEN 3307 Patrol Vessel is a variant on Damen’s best-selling Fast Crew Supplier 3307. It applies all the benefits of the basic FCS 3307 design; a top speed of 30 knots, rapid acceleration and excellent seakeeping, and adds a range of special refinements including an armoured wheelhouse and internal safe haven and is intended to carry up to 16 military personnel and their equipment. Additional equipment specified by Homeland includes a Fast Rescue Craft, FuelTrax electronic fuel monitoring system and a self-cleaning fuel separator. 15 seats for crew transfers have also been fitted.
Homeland was founded in 2006 to support international oil companies working in Nigeria’s offshore oil and gas fields by providing a wide range of services both at sea and on shore. 11 years later, it now operates a sizeable fleet that includes fast supply intervention vessels, platform support vessels, anchor handling tug supply ships, security and patrol vessels, and tugs. Led by managing director Louis Ekere, the company works with many of the international oil companies (IOCs) operating actively in the region.
Damen Shipyards Group
Damen Shipyards Group operates 33 shipbuilding and repair yards, employing 9,000 people worldwide. DAMEN has delivered more than 6,000 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers some 180 vessels annually to customers worldwide. Based on its unique, standardised ship-design concept DAMEN is able to guarantee consistent quality.
Damen’s focus on standardisation, modular construction and keeping vessels in stock leads to short delivery times, low ‘total cost of ownership’, high resale values and reliable performance. Furthermore, DAMEN vessels are based on thorough R&D and proven technology.
Damen offers a wide range of products, including tugs, workboats, naval and patrol vessels, high speed craft, cargo vessels, dredgers, vessels for the offshore industry, ferries, pontoons and superyachts.
For nearly all vessel types DAMEN offers a broad range of services, including maintenance, spare parts delivery, training and the transfer of (shipbuilding) know-how. DAMEN also offers a variety of marine components, such as nozzles, rudders, anchors, anchor chains and steel works.
Damen Shiprepair & Conversion (DSC) has a worldwide network of sixteen repair and conversion yards of which twelve are located in North West Europe. Facilities at the yards include more than 50 drydocks; conventional, floating and covered, the largest of which is 420 x 90 metres, as well as slopes, ship lifts and indoor halls. Projects range from the smallest simple repairs through Class’ maintenance to complex refits and the complete conversion of large offshore structures. DSC completes around 1,350 repair and maintenance jobs annually, both at the yards as well as in ports and while vessels are at sea.
