VESSELS

Damen Multi Cat delivered to UK operator

3 years ago

In what was very much a family occasion, Maritime Craft Services (Clyde) Ltd recently took delivery of a Damen Multi Cat workboat, just six weeks after placing the order.

Christening of 'MCS Rosie 2' was very much a family occasion (Damen)

For both Maritime Craft Services (MCS) and Damen Shipyards, the delivery and christening of the 27m Multi Cat 2712 MCS Rosie 2 would have been a familiar occasion with 13 of the owner’s 17 vessels originating from Damen. The Scotland-based company’s Damen-built fleet consists of eight Fast Crew Suppliers, two Shoalbusters and now three Multi Cats.

Damen’s policy of building in series and consequential speedy delivery reflects the constant demand for such vessels. This is important for MCS, who is seeing increasing demand across north-west Europe, the Middle East and beyond from offshore energy contractors and dredging companies for activities including anchor-handling, towing, cable-laying, dive support and other general services.

Rosie 2 is already on her way to her first assignment, at the time of writing AIS data showing her in the English Channel on passage from the Netherlands to Malta.

As with all Damen Multi Cats, the vessel was delivered with a comprehensive equipment package including two deck cranes, a bow thruster and a towing and anchor-handling winch. It has a bollard pull of up to 32 tonnes and a top speed of 10kn.

The christening took place at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem with the vessel named after the youngest child of MCS director Menno and his wife Heather Kuyt. Speaking in English and Dutch, Rosie, who is also the vessel’s godmother, wished the crew safe and prosperous sailing with the vessel.

The rest of the wider MCS ‘family’ were not to be left out. Rosie was photographed on board with her father and mother, sister Anneke and brother Cees, alongside MCS co-owner and Rosie’s aunt, Nikki Kuyt. They were joined by MCS employees Nigel Skea, John Grieve, Galvin McKechnie and Steve Janes.

Hosting the event was Damen Hardinxveld Commercial Manager Jeroen van Woerkum, who said: “We are delighted that MCS has returned to us for their latest addition to their fleet. The MuC 2712 is an exceptional vessel, having been continually upgraded and optimised over the years. The only significant adjustment to this stock vessel was painting it in the company colours.”