“Expanding on our buoy maintenance and towing capabilities further enhances our ability to meet increased operational demands.”
A new Damen Shoalbuster 3209 has been delivered to SAFEEN Group, a subsidiary of AD Ports. The vessel was named Al Mirfa, after a coastal community located in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, in a ceremony that took place at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem in the Netherlands.
The primary purpose of the Al Mirfa will be buoy maintenance, a role for which the Shoalbuster 3209 is ideally suited given its standard specification. This includes its shallow draught, extensive unobstructed deck, a heavy-duty deck crane, waterfall winch and towing pins, stern roller and a FiFi1 fire-fighting system. Additional buoy clamps and chain stoppers have been added. The vessel will also be utilised for towing activities, with a bollard pull of over 45 tonnes, as well as other support activities both in the ports and offshore.
Group.Captain Ammar Al Shaiba, Acting CEO – Maritime Cluster SAFEEN Group, commented, “We are pleased to continue SAFEEN Group’s marine service fleet expansion with this new acquisition. Expanding on our buoy maintenance and towing capabilities further enhances our ability to meet increased operational demands.”
SAFEEN Group already operates a Damen Shoalbuster 2609 model that was delivered in 2016, and in 2019 the group took delivery of two Damen ASD Tugs 2411. Damen’s service hub at Albwardy Damen in the UAE will provide SAFEEN with aftersales support.
Caption;Jeroen van Woerkum (Commercial Manager, Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld), Ferlin Brown (Sr. Manager Commercial & Business Development, SAFEEN Marine Services), Pascal Slingerland (Regional Sales Director Middle East, Damen Shipyards), Capt. Adil Banihammad (CEO, SAFEEN Marine Services), Capt. Salem Al Menhali (Director Marine Service Operations, SAFEEN Marine Services), Jos van Woerkum (Managing Director, Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld)
