Damen Secures Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger Contract

Damen Shipyards Group has signed a contract with LLC ‘Onego Shipyard’ to build a Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD) 2000. The vessel will be built by order of FSUE ‘Rosmorport’ in Petrozavodsk (the Russian Federation) and will be the sixth dredger built under the design of the Dutch company Damen. The vessel will be delivered to the customer in 2019.

Construction of this new TSHD 2000 will involve Damen Technical Cooperation (DTC); the service that company provides to facilitate shipbuilding operations at a local yard of the end-client’s choice. “In this particular case, we will be providing the design and materials package to Onego Shipyard,” states Damen Sales Manager, Marc Tijssen. “And, because transfer of knowledge and technology is a key aspect of the DTC concept, we will also be ready to deliver any assistance during the build process.”

Client feedback

This contract, signed within the framework of the 14th International Maritime Exhibition NEVA 2017 in Saint Petersburg, Russia, was another stage of mutually beneficial cooperation between the Enterprises. Last year FSUE ‘Rosmorport’ was handed over another Damen TSHD 2000 – the Severnaya Dvina.

Damen has had close contact with Rosmorport to identify some additional design requirements to the new vessel. This includes a self-emptying system for bow discharge. “We can always accommodate client modifications to our vessel designs,” adds Mr Tijssen. “After all, our clients have the operational experience in their particular working environment. We use that valuable information to optimise our designs in order to meet those specific needs.”

Local construction

Damen sells vessel designs, licences and materials to clients and non-Damen yards around the world using the DTC concept. This can be further supplemented by engineering packages, building supervision and even yard upgrades. In what is an extremely flexible method of building ships, DTC packages can be tailored precisely to fit each client’s specific requirements. The transfer of knowledge and technologies, and the consequent stimulation of local shipbuilding activities and skills development are key characteristics of this successful formula.

Strong relationships

After delivery in 2019, the new vessel will be used for maintenance operations in the northern region of Russia. Notably, the new vessel will be the sixth Damen dredger in Rosmorport’s fleet. The other vessels include one CSD 650, three TSHD 1000 vessels (built at Krasnoe Sormovo under Damen license) and the TSHD 2000 Severnaya Dvina. Rosmorport also operates a number of Damen workboats.

“We are extremely proud of how our business relationship with Rosmorport and Onego Shipyards has grown over the years,” notes Mr Tijssen. “And of course we are looking forward to forming closer working ties with Onego Shipyard in the near future.”

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 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 1,350 repair and maintenance jobs annually, both at yards as well as in ports and during voyage. For more information, please see www.damen.com.

FSUE "Rosmorport"

The enterprise, established by the decision of the Government of the Russian Federation in 2003 to promote the development of the maritime transport infrastructure, the realization of its transit potential and the competitiveness of Russian seaports.

FSUE "Rosmorport" is a system-forming organization in the port industry and is included in the rating of 400 largest companies in Russia. The enterprise consists of a central office and 16 branches located in 19 regions of the Russian Federation, employing more than 8.5 thousand employees. FSUE "Rosmorport" carries out economic activities in 65 out of 67 Russian seaports.

The activity of the Company is based on the principles of quality, efficiency and reliability of the services provided.

The main objectives of FSUE "Rosmorport" are to ensure the safety of navigation in the water areas of seaports and approaches to them, the effective use of federal property and the development of port infrastructure. In addition, the Company provides attraction of private investments in the development of the infrastructure of Russian seaports. The existing experience of public-private partnership allows guaranteed realization of investment projects of any complexity.