Damen Shipyards Sharjah’s facility

Damen Shipyards Sharjah (DSSh) was presented with a prize for Best Newbuilding Yard at a ceremony in Dubai.

The recognition came from the International Maritime Awards held at the two-day Shiptek 2016 conference in Dubai.

DSSh is a joint venture between the Damen Shipyards Group and Albwardy Investment. A Damen statement following the presentation said the yard had brought Damen quality and skills to the UAE while outlining its facilities including ones to repair and construct vessels. The yard is equipped an undercover newbuild hall, a 5,200-tonne ship lift and eight dry docks, each of 125 m length.

The company also highlighted that it recently delivered tugs, workboats, support vessels, dredgers, landing craft, floating docks, barges and pontoons to operators in and around the Arabian Gulf. 

The yard, operating in Sharjah’s Hamriyah Free Zone, was officially opened in January 2014. 

“What makes us unique in Hamriyah is that we took the opportunity to build the perfect yard and offer services that are quick, efficient and safe, all in one place,” said Lars Seistrup, DSSh’s managing director.

“We are proud to say that we can offer our clients the highest quality and still maintain reasonable prices. It is wonderful to receive this award, which shows that our suppliers and clients value the quality of the vessels that we build and the services we provide. I would also like to congratulate everyone in our newbuilding department for their hard work and enthusiasm.”

Damen Shipyards Group operates 32 shipbuilding and repair yards, employing 9,000 people worldwide.  Damen has delivered more than 6,000 vessels in more than 100 countries and dispatches some 180 vessels annually to customers worldwide.

“Damen’s focus on standardisation, modular construction and keeping vessels in stock leads to short delivery times, low total cost of ownership, high resale values and reliable performance. Furthermore, Damen vessels are based on thorough R&D and proven technology,” said the statement.

The group offers a wide range of products, including tugs, workboats, naval and patrol vessels, high-speed craft, cargo vessels, dredgers, vessels for the offshore industry, ferries, pontoons and superyachts. 

Services include maintenance, spare parts delivery, training and the transfer of (shipbuilding) know-how. The company also offers a variety of marine components, such as nozzles, rudders, anchors, anchor chains and steel works.

Meanwhile, Safeen, the subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Ports formerly known as Abu Dhabi Marine Services, has taken delivery of a Damen Shoalbuster 2609 named Maqtaa to join its existing fleet. Like all the vessels in Damen’s Shoalbuster range, she is a multi-purpose, shallow draught workboat capable of undertaking a wide range of roles including towing, mooring, pushing, anchor handling, dredge support, supplying and other support activities.

Maqtaa’s primary role is providing towage and berthing assistance in the emirate. She will also undertake maintenance support for local aids to navigation such as buoys and lights. To achieve her goals, she has been fitted with a 15-tonne crane, two buoy chain stoppers and three wire drum winches for towing, among other things. With Safeen being responsible for nearly 1,200 beacons and buoys there will be plenty of work for her to do in that department alone.