The Australian-based magazine Work Boat World has for the second year running designated Damen Shipyards Group the Best Overall Builder of the Year.
In its review of the work boat industry during 2014, it stated that its decision was based on the fact that Damen ‘continues to produce what the global industry wants. Invariably, it does that on-time and on-budget.’
It also went on to point out that the group has always been innovative, but within a firm set of philosophical guidelines, and has a policy of thinking and operating globally. The magazine further applauded Damen’s strategy of standardisation, that it said delivers fast response times, competitive pricing and reliability.
Judging criteria included looking at each builder’s approach to innovation, styling, finish and build quality together with feedback from the clients and an assessment of overall market trends.
Best Offshore Patrol Boat
In the same review, Damen’s FCS 3307 Patrol Guardian 1 (picture), owned and operated by Homeland Integrated Offshore Services Ltd., was named “Best Offshore Patrol Boat of 2014”. This was on the basis of its versatility, with her Nigerian owner specifying a combined crew/supply/patrol boat.
‘Aluminium hulled and triple engined, but really quite simple in concept,’ declared the judges, ‘Guardian 1 is fuel efficient and very capable and fast. [It] also has great potential for a number of other roles.’
Its good seakeeping is the result in part of its “sea-axe” bow, a distinctive characteristic of Damen’s high performance work boats, while the large aft deck is a key contributor to its multi-role capability.
