Damen shoalbusters for SMIT

Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT) has held a naming ceremony for the first of two Shoalbusters for SMIT Amandla Marine.

The Shoalbuster named Aukwatowa forms part of a series of multi-purpose, shallow draught workboats Damen specifically designed for inland and coastal waters.

“We quickly established an excellent relationship with the SMIT Amandla Marine project management team,” said DSCT project manager, Craig Trethewey. “As a result the project has gone smoothly and is on schedule. We are really pleased with progress and look forward to seeing the second vessel in the water in February next year.”

The 30 metre 3009S has a bollard pull of 24.5 tonnes and is fitted with a crane with a lifting capacity of up to 1.7 tonnes, making it suitable for towage, buoy-laying, pushing and all-round support duties.

These new vessels will eventually carry out supply and support work for the De Beers Group’s offshore diamond mining activities out of Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape.

With the shallow waters of the port making it accessible only to vessels with draughts of 2.8 metres or less, the minimal draught of the Shoalbuster was an important factor in SMIT Amandla selecting the class.

Aukwatowa was delivered on time and to budget. The trainees on DSCT’s highly-regarded apprenticeship programme played a significant role in the project.

Meanwhile, the build of the second Shoalbuster for SMIT Amandla is proceeding smoothly and on schedule for delivery in 2016.

Throughout both builds, DSCT has had the full cooperation of Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld, the yard behind the development of the shoalbuster class.