Damen’s Shoalbuster gets bigger

Van Wijngaarden Marine Services, based in Sliedrecht the Netherlands are demonstrating their faith in Damen’s Shoalbuster series of tugs with an order for what will be their fourth example, and a new model Shoalbuster

Van Wijngaarden’s experience with the Shoalbuster series started in 2004 with arrival of Amstelstroom a 2609 S variant. In 2007 the first of two Shoalbuster 3009s Giessenstroom joined the fleet to be followed in 2009 by Dintelstroom. The latest version, to be named Noordstroom will be a new model, the Shoalbuster 3512. So as not to leave the entire family out, they also have the Damen Pushycat 42 Eemstroom, still going strong after 40 years of service.

Work has now started on the new vessel which is due to be delivered in March 2016 and according to Gert Jan van Wijngaarden, general manager at Van Wijngaarden Marine Services: “… will allow us to expand the services we offer within our target market.” Adding: “We chose Damen because it is a reliable partner; able to build the vessel we required for a realistic price and within the time in which we need it. In addition, the Shoalbuster is a proven workboat design that holds its value well.”

As is the norm with Damen’s vessels, the product designation refers to the vessel’s main dimensions of 35m (34.8m) LOA and 12m beam. Other relevant statistics include 4.3m depth at sides, 3.4m draught aft (fully loaded), gross tonnage of 498 tons and deadweight (98% condition) of 597 tons. Noordstroom will be built to Bureau Veritas classification rules and carry the notation I+HULL. MACH Tug Unrestricted Navigation, AUT UMS, Anchor Handling. It will also satisfy the requirements of the Dutch Shipping Inspectorate for Unrestricted Navigation.

To assist in keeping the draught of the new Shoalbuster 3512 at a minimum a triple-engine, triple-screw arrangement has been specified. Main machinery will comprise three Caterpillar C32-TTA ACERT engines developing a total of 2,910bkW (3,957bhp) driving three Promarin fixed-pitch propellers in 2,250mm V.d. Giessen Optima nozzles. Auxiliary power is provided by two Caterpillar C7.1 generator sets. The centre engine is configured to supplement the twin gensets when additional power is required for hydraulic deck gear including the crane, winch and 300bhp Kalkman electric bow thruster. Approximate performance figures include a respectable bollard pull figure of 55 tonnes and a speed of 11.5 knots.

Noordstroom’s basic functions include ocean-going towing, anchor handling and dredge support so it is not surprising to find that an impressive list of deck machinery has been specified. The after deck is home to a Kraaijeveld Waterfall anchor handling/towing winch with a towing pull of 59.1 tons and holding force of 115 tons with the anchor handling pull quoted as 101.7 tons: the cable drum will hold 1000/600m of 48mm diameter wire. A Heila HLRM230-4SL deck crane aft will be capable of lifting 10.3 tons at 16.5m and 24.4 tons at 7.89m.

Summing up, as the Shoalbuster series gradually gets larger so additional capabilities emerge. The new design will have a larger bridge, an extensive working deck of 134m2 and accommodation for up to eleven persons in heated and air-conditioned cabins consisting of a captain’s cabin, four double crew cabins and two single crew cabins. Galley, mess and sanitary facilities will comply with ILO2006 rules.

The increased size of the new 3512 will permit carriage of up to seven twenty-foot containers allowing it to support diving, survey and dredging operations. This will fit in with the owner’s profile of world-wide operations, available for wide geographical areas of deployment which since Van Wijngaarden’s founding in 1974 matches their increasingly global sphere of operations covering Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and South America.