Second Damen Shoalbuster for SAFEEN

The Al Mirfa will shortly be on its way to the Arabian Gulf to take up buoy maintenance duties in early July. Damen’s service hub at Albwardy Damen in the UAE will provide SAFEEN with aftersales support.

Captain Ammar Al Shaiba, acting chief executive – Maritime Cluster, said the latest acquisition was part of SAFEEN’s marine service fleet expansion. “Expanding on our buoy maintenance and towing capabilities further enhances our ability to meet increased operational demands,” he said.

The Shoalbuster 3209’s specification makes its ideally suited to Al Mirfa’s primary role of buoy maintenance. Features include a shallow draught, heavy-duty deck crane, waterfall winch and towing pins, stern roller and a FiFi1 fire-fighting system.

Additional buoy clamps and chain stoppers have been added. The vessel will also be used for towing activities, with a bollard pull of over 45 tonnes, as well as other support activities both in the ports and offshore.

SAFEEN Group already operates a Damen Shoalbuster 2609 model that was delivered in 2016, and in 2019 the group took delivery of two Damen ASD Tugs 2411.

“Over the past years the Shoalbuster series has been proven a well proven, multipurpose workhouse,” said Pascal Slingerland, regional sales director Middle East for Damen Shipyards.

“We are delighted to be supplying a second Shoalbuster to SAFEEN Group and are confident that it will give them many years of reliable service.”