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Damen SAR 1906 boats to be built in Turkey
Damen has signed a contract with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Ankara, Turkey for the supply of six, state-of-the-art Search and Rescue (SAR) vessels for delivery in 2017. The boats are being financed by the European Union and will be operated by the Turkish Coastguard (TURCG), to support the refugees and migrants rescue operations.
The award-winning Damen SAR 1906 is a state-of-the-art SAR craft and is the result of a five-year R&D programme initiated by Damen in partnership with the Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution (KNRM), Delft University of Technology and De Vries Lentsch Naval Architects. The SAR 1906 is an all-weather, self-righting vessel with an aluminium hull and a composite wheelhouse. The hull design is based on Damen’s Axe Bow technology, adapted for the specific operations of rescue boats. It has a top speed of 33+ knots.
“These boats will be built in Turkey for Turkey,” says Damen’s Boran Bekbulat. “They will be built at Damen’s Turkish Shipyard in Antalya (DSA) where we have all the facilities necessary to fabricate both the composite superstructures and the aluminium hulls. Damen and its SAR 1906 were selected to fulfil the Turkish Coastguard’s need for new SAR vessels based on its innovative design and its ability to deliver them within a short time frame. We already had vessels under construction in our production line which allows us to deliver the first two boats in the first half of 2017. Moreover, our people in Antalya are committed to beating the challenging delivery times, realising the importance of the SAR boats’ mission. Having a good cooperation with all involved parties in the lead of IOM, we are all proud of taking a part in the EU’s project for TURCG. The fact that they will be built in a Turkish shipyard – Damen Shipyards Antalya - and that Damen is very much committed to the country were also positive factors.”
The vessels will be deployed by Turkish Coast Guard along Turkey’s coast line, giving assistance to refugees and migrants fleeing nearby conflict zones. Although relatively compact, the 19-metre SAR 1906 can carry up to 120 survivors.
The delivery schedule calls for the first vessel to be delivered within 12 months of the contract signing, however DSA plans to beat that by delivering the first in May next year and the second the following month. All six will be commissioned by the year end.
Damen Shipyards Group
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 delivers some 180 vessels annually to customers worldwide. Based on its unique, standardised ship-design concept Damen is able to guarantee consistent quality.
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.
Damen 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.
For nearly all vessel types Damen offers a broad range of services, including maintenance, spare parts delivery, training and the transfer of (shipbuilding) know-how. Damen also offers a variety of marine components, such as nozzles, rudders, anchors, anchor chains and steel works.
In addition to ship design and shipbuilding, Damen Shiprepair & Conversion has a worldwide network of 16 repair and conversion yards with dry docks ranging up to 420 x 80 metres. Conversion projects range from adapting vessels to today’s requirements and regulations to the complete conversion of large offshore structures. DSC completes around 1,500 repair and maintenance jobs annually.
For further information, please contact
Ben Littler
Communications Advisor
+31 (0) 183 65 5546
+31 (0) 610 46 5742
ben.littler@damen.com
Ilona van der Zalm
Communications Advisor
+31 (0) 102 04 1326
+31 (0) 620 44 5648
ilona.van.der.zalm@damen.com
www.damen.com
© Press Release 2016
