SAFEEN, the subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Ports formerly known as Abu Dhabi Marine Services, has taken delivery of a Damen Shoalbuster 2609 named MAQTAA to join its existing fleet. Like all the vessels in Damen’s Shoalbuster range she is a multi-purpose, shallow draught workboat capable of undertaking a wide range of roles including towing, mooring, pushing, anchor handling, dredge support, supplying and other support activities. The order was placed by SAFEEN just two months ago.
MAQTAA’s primary role is providing towage and berthing assistance in the Emirate. She will also undertake maintenance support for local aids to navigation such as buoys and lights. To achieve her goals, she has been fitted with a 15-tonne crane, A-frame and two buoy chain stoppers, plus three wire drum winches for the towing. With SAFEEN being responsible for nearly 1200 beacons and buoys there will be plenty of work for her to do in that department alone.
The 26-metre Shoalbuster will join an existing buoy maintenance vessel operated by SAFEEN called Al Shahama. The latter was built in 1994 in Abu Dhabi under a Damen Technical Cooperation design and materials package. 22 years on, she is still in operation and in a very good condition. The two vessels will work together when required. Warranty support, maintenance and repairs will be provided by Damen Shipyards Sharjah, just a short distance up the coast.
Damen Shipyards Group operates 32 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, standardized ship-design concept Damen is able to guarantee consistent quality.
Damen’s focus on standardization, 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.
In addition to ship design and shipbuilding, Damen Shiprepair & Conversion has a worldwide network of 15 repair and conversion yards with dry docks ranging up to 420 x 80 meters. Conversion projects range from adapting vessels to today’s requirements and regulations to the complete conversion of large offshore structures. DSC completes around 1,500 repair and maintenance jobs annually.
