Damen Shipyards Group and Belgian ferry operator Aqualiner have signed a contract for the delivery of three Damen Waterbus 2407 vessels, for operations on the Scheldt in Antwerp. The Waterbus 2407 is a new composite design from Damen, first unveiled just over a year ago. Lightweight, low maintenance and fuel efficient, it can carry up to 100 passengers at speeds up to 21 knots.
Aqualiner is contracted by the Port of Antwerp to provide water-based public transport services in the Belgian city of Antwerp. This latest investment is part of a wider transportation programme to improve the city’s infrastructure and reduce pressure on its roads. Aqualiner took delivery of its first Waterbus 2407 from Damen at the end of June this year following a tender process that culminated in the two organisations signing an agreement covering a total of four vessels. One of the factors in Damen’s favour was its policy of building for stock, enabling it to deliver an initial vessel almost immediately.
Christened the Aqua Diamond, the ferry is currently operating a service that connects the centre of Antwerp with the southern part of the city. It has been its success that has led to Aqualiner formally confirming the new orders. The three additional vessels will enable Aqualiner to expand that service to the north. When all four waterbuses are in operation, both services will be able to offer departures every half hour.
The Aqua Diamond was built at Damen Shipyards Antalya, as will the three new additions. The Antalya yard specialises in composite vessels and builds a wide range of fast boats using the latest vacuum infusion techniques. All three ferries are scheduled for delivery next year, with the possibility of further orders coming thereafter.
Gerbrand Schutten, Director of Aqualiner, commented: “Damen has a good reputation in fast ferries, and over the last six months, our new Waterbus 2407 has proved to be a reliable vessel. As a ferry service operating tight timetables, we are dependent on reliable technology and designs that are both attractive to our customers and efficient to operate. These new vessels will achieve both those goals. The cooperation with Damen Shipyards Antalya has also been very good.”
Beside the Aqualiner order of three ferries Damen has received an order of four Damen ASD 3212 tugs from Dutch towage and marine services company Smit Lamnalco. As informed, the vessels are slated for delivery next year. Making the announcement at about the tug orders, Mauro Fernando Sales, Smit Lamnalco’s CEO, said: “We decided to invest in four new Damen ASD tugs following the recent award of two important contracts – one in Australia and the other in Oman.”
“The move to acquire more Damen vessels is in line with our mission to standardise our fleet and to provide high quality, reliable vessels, which is particularly important given the challenging environments our vessels often operate in,” he added.
Two of the new tugs will head for the mining town of Weipa in Queensland, Australia, another two tugs will work at a terminal operated by the Oman India Fertiliser Company in the Port of Sur. These tugs are due to be delivered in June 2018. With a bollard pull of 80 tons, ASD 3212 tugs have a length of 32.7 meters and a beam of 12.82 meters.
