Dutch shipbuilding giant Damen Shipyards has announced that its Fast Crew Supplier 1605 (FCS) is to be built in Ecuador for the first time, by Astilleros Navales Ecuatorianos (ASTINAVE) Shipyard.
Damen is supplying the complete, prefabricated Shipbuilding Material Package Kit to ASTINAVE. The yard's technical staff are responsible for the construction, together with Damen Technical Cooperation (DTC). The DTC concept enables customers to build Damen vessels of their choice locally, according to specific requirements.
The FCS will be delivered to PetroEcuador in September this year. Damen engineers have been heavily involved in the design process because the vessel will not be a standard vessel. Usually, the Damen Fast Crew Supplier 1605 transports 29 passengers, but this vessel is being designed for only 19. As well as being more luxurious and spacious for high levels of passenger comfort, the vessel is also being adapted for a 3 m access system to transfer passengers to the rigs.
ASTINAVE and Damen have a long-established relationship, with the Ecuadorian yard having built several Cutter Suction Dredgers and Stan Patrols over the years. This latest order followed one in September 2011 for a Stan Patrol 2606. ASTINAVE employees also attend training courses at Damen's headquarters in the Netherlands.