Vroon orders SSV quartet

Vroon Offshore B.V. and Damen Shipyards Gorinchem have signed a contract for the design and construction of four Safety Standby Vessels (SSV) 4711. The contract was won after a strong competition with Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese yards and follows an order of two 72 m Platform Supply Vessels from the same client in December 2005.

The main part of Vroon?s Offshore vessels is being operated by Vroon Offshore Services in Den Helder for employment in the North Sea, although the vessels can operate anywhere. Vroon operates vessel types like safety standby (NOGEPA/UKOOA), platform supply, diving support, maintenance, anchor handling tug/supply vessels etc., and the four newbuildings will be partly additional, partly replacement of the current safety standby fleet of 13 vessels.

The innovative design of the vessels was developed for Vroon in response to the booming Standby Vessel market in the North Sea area and has been focused on simplicity, functionality and crew comfort. The result is a completely new concept for a 47m long and 11m wide SSV. The rescue zone and fast rescue crafts are located amidships with the wheelhouse is situated just aft of the rescue zone, resulting in an optimal view from the control stations in the bridge wings. The crew accommodation is located aft of the rescue zone for optimal comfort in seaway while the fore ship is fully dedicated to the survivors and is clearly separated from the crew accommodation.

The propulsion system consists of one 1,325 kW main engine, driving a fixed pitch propeller through a reverse reduction gear box. A diesel-electric system for a 300 kW retractable azimuth bow thruster is provided as a secondary propulsion system and for standby operations. This propulsion concept is optimized for fuel consumption by enabling one generator set to take the full hotel load and restricted bow thruster load, with still sufficient capacity for station keeping in standby operations in fair to moderate weather conditions.

The vessels will be built by Maaskant Shipyards in Stellendam, The Netherlands (a full member of the Damen Shipyards Group), with the hulls being built in Poland, a much proven building concept for the Damen Shipyards Group.

The delivery of the first vessel is scheduled for the summer 2007 with the following 3 vessels being delivered at 3 monthly intervals.