Dutch company Groen has ordered two seismic research support vessels (SRSVs) with Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam (Netherlands). The vessels have been designed in co-operation with Saltwater Engineering (Netherlands).
The vessels' all-weather chase and support tasks will focus on seismic activity research. Both SRSVs will be 40 metres long with a 9.30-metre beam. Two Caterpillar propulsion units totalling 1,940kW will give the vessels a design speed of 14 knots. They can be deployed worldwide and have accommodation for 14 people. The vessels will be delivered in the first quarter of 2013.
Maaskant has broad experience in maintenance and repair of offshore support vessels (OSVs), but the order for SRSV-newbuilds represents a first for the yard, part of the Damen Shipyards Group. Maaskant specialises in the maintenance and repair of OSVs, fishing vessels, guard vessels and standby vessels. Recently, a 44-metre beam-trawler fishing vessel, built by Maaskant in 1994, was converted to an OSV.
