Damen delivers two new vessels to RAK Ports
Damen Shipyards Group has delivered two vessels to RAK Ports in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The deliveries took place on 5th December at the Ras Al Khaimah Cruise Terminal. The vessels in question were a Damen Multi Cat 1908 and a Stan Tug 1907, the company said in its release.
The Multi Cat is named Hobby. The lady sponsor for the naming ceremony was Danielle Brand, daughter of Cliff Brand, CEO of RAK Ports.
The Multi Cat’s first role is positioning more than fifty pontoons for a firework display at New Year. Two world records will be attempted during this high-profile event at Marjan Island in Ras al Khaimah. Following this, Hobby will be used for general port assistance and maintenance duties, as well as maintaining navigation buoys.
The Stan Tug was named Hawk, with Gillian Robertson as lady sponsor, wife of RAK Ports’ Harbour Master Captain Mike Magee. The Hawk will join the conventional fleet at Saqr Port and will service the large volume of barges currently active at Stevin Rock Harbour.
The Hawk and Hobby will join eight other Damen Stan Tugs and Damen ASD Tugs in the RAK Ports fleet – ranging from 9 to 80+ tons bollard pull. This includes a 1976-delivered Stan Tug 7 – still going strong 43 years on.
Pascal Slingerland, Damen Regional Director Middle East, commented that he is delighted with the continued and fruitful relationship with RAK Ports. The Damen Stan Tugs and Multi Cat series are well proven workhorses, the 43 years old Stan Tug 7 of RAK Ports is a great example.
Capt Magee, Group Harbour Master RAK Ports, commented that the Hawk and Hobby are two great vessels and they will go straight to work. He thanked Damen for their flexibility and efforts to modify and deliver these two high quality vessels as quickly as they did.
Both of the new vessels were available from stock for fast delivery. The standard vessels were moved from Damen Shipyards Gorinchem in the Netherlands to Abwardy Damen in the UAE, where they were tailored to the client’s requirements.
Damen Shipyards Group operates 36 shipbuilding and repair yards, employing 12,000 people worldwide. Damen has delivered more than 6,500 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers some 175 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, winches, anchors, anchor chains and steel works.
Damen Shiprepair & Conversion (DSC) has a worldwide network of eighteen repair and conversion yards of which twelve are located in North West Europe. Facilities at the yards include more than 50 floating and (covered) drydocks, 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 1,300 repair and maintenance jobs annually, both at yards as well as in ports and during voyage.
