Damen Shipyards Group said that it has delivered two additional fast crew supplier (FCS) 3307 vessels configured as patrol boats to Nigeria-based Homeland Integrated Offshore Services Limited (HIOSL), a leading West African offshore services supplier, just five months after the contracts were signed.
The handing over of Guardian 9 and Guardian 10 adds to the existing FCS 3307 Patrol fleet that HIOSL has been operating for the past five years and is a powerful testimonial to the Damen FCS as a versatile concept capable of effectively undertaking a wide variety of roles, said a statement from the company.
The FCS 3307 Patrol, which are 33 m in length, share the same attributes as the other variants available. Thanks to its Axe-Bow hull form it has excellent manoeuvrability and first-class seakeeping combined with superb fuel economy and a top speed of 28 knots, it said.
Guardians 9 and 10 will be powered by three Caterpillar main engines delivering 3,250 bkW to three fixed pitch propellers via three Reintjes WVS series gearboxes. They will have a range of 1,000 nm at full speed and with full complements of six crew and 12 security personnel they will be able to remain at sea for up to four weeks, in and around Nigeria’s coastal and offshore oil fields.
As privately-owned vessels they have no offensive capability apart from the security personnel on board and their equipment, however they are well defended.
The bridges are bullet proof and armoured ‘citadels’ within will protect non-combatants in the event of fire being exchanged.
The two new vessels have not entirely left behind their fast crew supplier origins. Like their sisterships, each has a 75 sq m cargo deck aft rated at 2.5 tonnes/sq m. This allows them to provide an express service for the delivery of urgently needed equipment and spares.
Additional equipment specified by HIOSL includes thermal imaging sets, diesel powered Solas fast rescue craft and Fuel Trax fuel monitoring systems as well as redundant fuel oil separators to protect the engines and generators from contaminated fuel.-TradeArabia News Service
Damen delivers patrol vessels to Nigerian group
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