On 28 March, SeaZip Offshore Service named two new Damen Fast Crew Suppliers (FCS) 2610 at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem. The two vessels, named SeaZip 3 and SeaZip 4, will expand their owner’s offshore wind farm support capacity in the North Sea region.
SeaZip 3 and SeaZip 4 can be described as the Mark II version of Damen’s renowned FCS 2610. Responding to industry feedback, Damen has lengthened the wheelhouse and located the accommodation closer to the stern. “Passengers have their own space upstairs in the wheelhouse while downstairs there are 3 cabins and a small galley for the crew,” explains Damen Sales Manager Benelux Roel van Eijle.
For its new vessels, SeaZip Offshore Service also selected some of Damen’s standard options – a foredeck moonpool to enable hydrographic surveys and extra fendering on the sides offering additional protection.
SeaZip 3 and 4 were built at Damen Shipyards Singapore – renowned for its expertise in construction of high-speed aluminium vessels. Mid-March, Damen transported both vessels to the Netherlands to complete the finishing touches.
The two new vessels will join SeaZip Offshore Service’s two other FCS 2610 vessels that Damen delivered in 2013. SeaZip is part of the Netherlands-based JR Shipping Group that has firm foundations in the cargo shipping sector. “Our cooperation with JR Shipping started years ago – at that time we were talking about cargo and container vessels. We concluded the first two contracts with them when they broadened their scope to wind farm support services,” states Mr Van Eijle. “We are currently talking with them about future cooperation concerning their continued expansion into this promising market.”
