Van Stee owns and operates 19 workboats and specialises in shallow water works. The vessels are generally deployed in offshore oil & gas, dredging, marine construction and survey activities.

Van Stee will continue operating under their own name from their Harlingen offices.

The first result of the new symbiosis is already underway after Rederij Waterweg obtained long term contracts in the Caspian Sea for its two new Damen Multicats CS Carmen and CS Marina as well as the Van Stee boats Sara Maatje Elf and Sara Maatje XII. The four boats were loaded onto a heavy lift vessel in Antwerp for transport to the Caspian Sea before winter ice blocks the region off until spring.

Large parts of the Caspian Sea are very shallow waters and Rederij Waterweg has been deploying workboats there for years. Coastal Bigfoot has been conducting seismic survey activities in Kazakhstan since 2002, accommodating up to 25 workers on board despite having a draft of only 80cm. The tug Coastal Assistant has been so popular in the region that it was recently purchased by the client.

Acta's acquisition of Van Stee could not have been more timely, as Rederij Waterweg had potential contracts for two additional craft but did not have the right equipment. The problem has been solved by Van Stee's ownership of Sara Maatje Elf and Sara Maatje XII. There was just time for the Sara Maatje Elf to have a major refit before departure, including the installation of an additional main engine.

MJ Information No: 21302