Albwardy Damen Shipyard is proud to announce a new project in our orderbook. Early next year we will start building two new vessels for our group company Damen OSV on behalf of Chomex Marino for the construction of two next-generation Damen Offshore Support Tugs (OST) 120. This significant achievement underscores the trust and confidence that our valued customers place in our yard and our dedicated team.
The project began when Woodside Energy sought tenders for a 15-year time charter contract for multipurpose offshore support vessels. Chomex Marino, a longstanding partner of Damen, submitted the Damen design, which went on to win the tender. The vessels will be built at our state-of-the-art Albwardy Damen shipyard Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates, which meets Woodside’s robust HSSEQ, project management, and risk management standards.
The new vessels, designed to meet the operational requirements of Woodside Energy, will play a crucial role in supporting deepwater operations in the Gulf of Mexico. With a length of 67 meters, a beam of 18 meters, and a bollard pull of 120 tonnes both ahead and astern, the Damen OST 120 is a highly versatile vessel capable of handling a wide range of activities in the offshore energy sector.
Lars Seistrup, Managing Director of Albwardy Damen, commented, “This contract marks a significant milestone for our shipyard. It highlights our capability to deliver top-notch vessels that meet the highest standards of quality and performance. We are proud to be trusted by Chomex Marino and Woodside Energy, and we look forward to delivering these powerful tugs that will enhance offshore operations in the Gulf of Mexico.”
Our expertise in building large Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vessels is well proven, as demonstrated by our successful completion of the ART 100-46 project. However, the Damen OST 120, with its 120 tonne bollard pull, will raise the bar and will be the strongest tug our yard has built to date, showcasing our continuous innovation and capability to meet the evolving demands of the maritime industry.
Designed for exceptional seakeeping and strong DP2 performance in severe offshore conditions, the Damen OST 120 is capable of safely handling mooring lines and cargo hoses, hose maintenance, tanker assistance during tandem offloading operations, ROV deployment, standby services, oil spill response, as well as a wide range of supply and replenishment missions such as crew and bulk cargo transfers. A special feature of the OST 120 is its ability to store and transfer chemicals in-field, allowing Woodside to run their operations with one less chemical supply vessel and, as a result, a lower emissions footprint.
Fausto Correa, General Manager of Chomex Marino, expressed his satisfaction with the collaboration, stating, “It has been a pleasure to work with Damen, and we are grateful for a vessel design that satisfies the requirements of both Woodside and Chomex Marino. With a 100% Mexican crew onboard these vessels, we look forward to seeing our new Damen OST 120 vessels in operation, making a positive impact on the Mexican maritime industry”.
With over 40 vessels in our Albwardy-Damen order book, we take immense pride in our ability to deliver high-quality vessels that meet the stringent requirements of our clients. This contract is a testament to our commitment to excellence and our reputation as a trusted partner in the maritime industry. We make it in the Emirates, and we are excited to contribute to the success of this project and the advancement of offshore support operations in the Gulf of Mexico.