Damen Delivers Workboat to Multraship
Towage and salvage operator Multraship has taken delivery of the first of two customized Damen Stan Launch 804s vessels for its line handling and boatmen service companies in Terneuzen, the Netherlands. Verenigde Bootlieden B.V. and Montis Mooring & Boatservice B.V. will use the vessels to support port operations.
In December Damen Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam in the Netherlands delivered the first Stan Launch 804s, Montis 5, and the second vessel, VB 2, will be delivered in early February after 16 weeks under construction.
“We had some very specific demands for these vessels,” said Pepijn Nuijten from Multraship Towage & Salvage. “We wanted maneuverability and flexibility for working in confined spaces, but with the extra power to work as a tug with pusher bow.”
Although Multraship is already a client of Damen, the contract for the two Stan Launch 804s vessels is the first for Multraship’s boatmen services. To meet the client’s requirements, Damen’s design and engineering team at its Maaskant yard customized the 8.62-meter Stan Launch 804 design to increase the standard bollard pull from 1.4 to 3.2 metric tons, adding an 11 kW bow thruster, a ø900 mm nozzle propeller and more than doubling the installed power to 182 kW.
“Multraship is a very experienced client and definitely has an eye for detail,” said Project Engineer John van der Maas. “Together with the client, we put a lot of effort into developing special solutions with what I’d say is a really perfectionist approach. These are very well-thought out vessels and the Montis 5 has performed very well so far.”
Additional client specifications include limiting the air draught to a maximum of 2.75 meters so that the vessels can escape under open pier structures if necessary. The mast can be quickly folded to further reduce air draught. The vessels have been customized to handle the size and weight of mooring lines on large seagoing ships and are fitted with Mampaey quick-release towing hooks. A capstan with a pull force of 750 kg has been installed to help the crew with heavy mooring ropes, etc. With an anti-slip wooden deck, the Stan Launches can also safely transport cargo up to 450 kg.
