SeaZip Offshore Service (Harlingen) is expanding its fleet with the acquisition of a 24 PAX Crew Transfer Vessel from shipping company Groen (The Hague/Scheveningen). Jan Reier Arends, Managing Owner of SeaZip, speaks of a golden opportunity because it concerns a young vessel that is in new condition. The vessel, still sailing under the name ‘Green Waves’, was built in 2020 by Damen Shipyards. SeaZip is the owner at the beginning of April. The vessel will soon be renamed ‘SeaZip 9’ and will sail under the Dutch flag.
In 2020, MV SeaZip 9 was the first Fast Crew Supplier 2710 supplied in the Netherlands by Damen Shipyards. It is a further development of the Damen FCS 2610, of which SeaZip has four in service. These were converted into 24 PAX vessels in March 2022. A smart step, because the demand for 24 PAX crew transfer vessels is high. SeaZip itself was closely involved in the innovative design of the new generation of Damen Crew Suppliers.
Immediately ‘hooked’
Arends: “When shipping company Groen put the vessel on the market, we immediately organized an inspection. We were hooked at that very moment. The vessel is in brand new condition and is a perfect addition to our current fleet, which consists largely of 24 PAX Crew Transfer Vessels. We grabbed this opportunity with both hands and negotiated quickly. The sea trial, at the end of March, went beyond expectations. Early April, the vessel will immediately start work on a project for a leading player in the offshore installation and repair market, from Helgoland.
In this first project, the vessel still sails under her old name and under the British flag. The procedures to sail under the Dutch flag as SeaZip 9 started immediately after the takeover. The formalities will be completed around the beginning of May. “We are putting pressure on it,” says Jan Reier Arends, “because the market is increasingly asking for vessels operating under an EU flag. We want to meet that specific requirement quickly.”
Offshore energy projects gaining momentum
The momentum for fleet expansion with SeaZip 9 couldn’t be better, according to Arends. Due to the climate crisis, offshore wind turbine projects are speeding up. Moreover, the climate issue is driving construction and maintenance projects in the gas and oil industry. SeaZip is active in both sectors and has seen the demand for its vessels and services increase rapidly since the end of 2022. Part of the fleet remained operational last winter. For all other vessels, the current season starts earlier than ever before – as early as February.
Arends: “Our fleet contributes almost continuously to prestigious offshore projects in the North Sea. We are currently mainly active in the French part, where the fact that we sail under the Dutch flag is an important plus. The market prospects are excellent. We respond to this with our tailor-made solutions. The acquisition and operation of SeaZip 9 fits perfectly with the current heat in the offshore energy market.”
SeaZip Offshore Service fleet
The SeaZip Offshore Service fleet consists of seven own 24 PAX Crew Transfer Vessels, including SeaZip 9, which will enter service in early April 2023. SeaZip Offshore Service also provides the commercial management for third parties, including 3 30 PAX Monomaran Crew tenders (Endurance Class NG2727) and 1 12 PAX Crew Transfer Vessel MV Swift. SeaZip 9, built in 2020, offers maximum comfort and safety to 24 passengers and has 90 m² of deck space for cargo transport. The vessel is very stable and manoeuvrable and can reach a speed of 25 knots. SeaZip 9 is equipped with innovative technology. View the fleet overview.
