VESSEL REVIEW | E-Six & E-Seven – Multi-role crewboat pair for EMAR Offshore’s Angola operations

Netherlands-based EMAR Offshore Services recently took delivery of two fast aluminium-hulled crewboats in a series from the Damen Shipyards Group.

Built by Damen Shipyards Antalya in Turkey, E-Six and E-Seven each have a length of 22.1 metres, a beam of 5.7 metres, a draught of 1.5 metres, a cargo deck with an area of 25 square metres, and space for 42 passengers and two crewmembers. The deck on each crewboat can accommodate up to four tonnes of cargo. Wrap-around fendering is installed, and this also includes a heavy duty foam-filled fender at the bow to minimise impact damage during crew transfers.

Power for each crewboat is provided by two Caterpillar C32 engines that each produce 970 kW to drive Hamilton HM521 waterjets via Reintjes WvS 430 gearboxes. A speed of 32 knots will enable the vessels to sail for up to 315 nautical miles, though the range can be extended to 350 nautical miles with the addition of optional fuel tanks.

Additional optional features specified by EMAR include firefighting capability, secondary gensets for redundancy, and an autopilot and night vision package. For firefighting, each crewboat is equipped with a monitor with a discharge rate of 600 cubic metres per hour.

The main passenger cabin is kept comfortable with the aid of an air conditioner. Also within this space is a toilet and an infotainment system that includes a radio/DVD player connected to a TV screen and speakers.

E-Six and E-Seven were built in compliance to Bureau Veritas class rules. Both vessels will sail under the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and will be operated in Angola in support of the local oil and gas industry.