SAR Boat Named ‘Ship of the Year’ by KNVTS
Photo courtesy of Damen
Photo courtesy of Damen
KNRM, Delft University of Technology, De VriesLentsch Naval Architects and Damen: maritime cooperation leads to innovation
Damen and its partners have won the Royal Netherlands Society for Marine Engineering (KNVTS) ‘Ship of the Year Award’ for Nh1816,the first of a series of the SAR 1906, a new search and rescue (SAR) boat, at the Maritime Awards Gala 2014 held in Rotterdam.
The SAR 1906 is a 35-knots self-righting vessel, with an aluminum hull and a composite wheelhouse. The hull design is based on the Axe Bow technology, adapted for the specific operations of lifeboats.
Developed in collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution (KNRM), Delft University of Technology and De VriesLentsch Naval Architects, the new type is the future ‘big boat’ of KNRM, the so-called Nh1816 Class, named after its sponsor, insurance company De Noordhollandschevan 1816.
“We started working on this next generation Lifeboat in 2009. Various concept designs were jointly made and these were extensively tested by Delft University of Technology,” said Jaap Gelling, Director High Speed Craft of Damen. “There is no other lifeboat in the world for which such an enormous amount of R&D has been carried out. The final design was only reached due to the excellent cooperation between all the parties.”
Damen delivered the first vessel to KNRM in the beginning of 2014. But the longer-term plan is that the SAR 1906 replaces the KNRM’s ArieVisser Class. Gelling explained, “We have kept and improved all the great things of the ArieVisserClass boats and solved the less favorable aspects – the SAR 1906 is simply better in all respects.”
“The development of the Nh1816 has been a process of true cooperation in ‘The Golden Triangle,’” said Roemer Boogaard, the sea rescue institutions’ Director. “A perfect example of innovation by user, knowledge institute and manufacturing industry together – something the Dutch maritime industry continues to invest in. Also unique is the fact that the vessel has been fully built under Class by Lloyd´s.
