The naming ceremony for the first of the two Damen Shoalbusters 3009 being built for SMIT Amandla Marine at Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT), was held today.
Jenny Coltman, Spouse of the Chairman of De Beers Group Services, named the vessel Aukwatowa.
The Shoalbuster series of multi-purpose, shallow draught workboats are designed for inland and coastal waters. The 30 meter 3009S has a bollard pull of 24.5 tonnes and is fitted with a crane with a lifting capacity of up to 1.7 tonnes, making it suitable for towage, buoy-laying, pushing and all-round support duties.
These new vessels will carry out supply and support work for the De Beers Group’s offshore diamond mining activities out of Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape.
The build of the second Shoalbuster for SMIT Amandla is proceeding smoothly and on schedule for delivery in 2016, Damen said in a press release.
“We quickly established an excellent relationship with the SMIT Amandla Marine project management team,” said DSCT project manager Craig Trethewey. “As a result the project has gone smoothly and is on schedule. We are really pleased with progress and look forward to seeing the second vessel in the water in February next year.”
Sam Montsi , Chairman of DSCT: “We at Damen Shipyards Cape Town believe that the economic development of our country is a shared responsibility between Government and the private sector. We are therefore proud to be part of this co-operative effort with SMIT Amandla and De Beers in having the two vessels built here in Cape Town. The vessels have been built within the budgets and times agreed. We look forward to more co-operation with SMIT Amandla and other vessel operators in our country.”