Damen Shipyards Group Delivers Shoalbuster 3209 to ISA Towage B.V.

ISA Towage B.V. (formerly known as V.O.F. Sleepboot ISA) has taken delivery of a Shoalbuster 3209 from Damen Shipyard Hardinxveld (DSHa). The vessel was already in stock at the yard and was handed over to the client within four weeks of the order being agreed. Damen’s extensive range of Shoalbuster vessels offers some of the most versatile workboats available in the marketplace today, capable of taking on a wide variety of roles.

The purchase of the 3209 by ISA Towage B.V. marks the return of the Dutch towage and marine assistance company to DSHa following it taking delivery of a smaller version in December 2016, its first purchase from the Damen Group. The Shoalbuster, named ISA, is now working on a contract in Germany.

32 metres long and with a beam of over 9 metres, ISA is ready to operations such as towing, mooring, pushing, anchor handling and dredging support. These are supported by an equipment package specified by the client that includes twin Caterpillar engines delivering 3500 bhp for 52 tonnes of bollard pull and a top speed of 11 knots, an HS Marine deck crane giving 8 tonnes of lift at 16-metres, and a 50-tonne towing and a 12-tonne tugger winch. The fully air-conditioned interior has comfortable accommodation for up to seven crew.

“We’re delighted that ISA Towage B.V. has returned to us so soon,” says Jos van Woerkum, Managing Director of Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld. “Willem-Harm Mastenbroek, owner and managing director of ISA Towage B.V., was able to take advantage of a great deal and immediate availability to provide an enhanced capability to his clients, and it is very gratifying to welcome back him and ISA Towage B.V. back to the Damen family.”

“When in July, Jos van Woerkum at DSHa offered us the opportunity to upgrade to a Shoalbuster 3209 that had just been just completed and completely outfitted at the shipyard, it was just too good to miss,” says Willem-Harm Mastenbroek. “Our current client at the time had recently informed us that our existing vessel did not have sufficient bollard pull for their next contract and that 50 tonnes of bollard pull would be needed. So the decision to make the step up to a bigger vessel with more capabilities was easily made. The new 3209 has now replaced its predecessor in the Baltic Sea, and we look forward to the new and better opportunities and different types of contracts that our new ISA will open up for us.”

Based in Wijk bij Duurstede in the Netherlands, ISA Towage B.V. undertakes projects across Europe and into Asia.

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. For more information, see www.damen.com.