Posted on January 7, 2021
An interesting development will see HST Marine expand its crew transfer vessel (CTV) activities into the workboat market with a newbuild Damen Multi Cat.
Seawork exhibitor HST Marine was first customer for Damen’s FCS 2710 fast crew supplier and its ‘excellent relationship’ with Damen has led to it being launch customer again, this time for a modified mid-range Multi Cat 2309 workboat marking the Swansea-based operator’s venture into a new market.
The vessel, to be named HST Hazel when delivered at the end of 2021 will carry out duties including coastal towing, buoy maintenance, floating wind support, surveying and marine equipment testing with HST’s three directors drawing on their experiences with older models of this type from before they founded HST.
CTVs have evolved into high-quality specialist vessels with an emphasis on crew comfort and efficiency, features incorporated into the specification for the new Multi Cat. HST state that Volvo Penta engines will provide ‘added efficiency and emissions reduction’ along with the option for future IMO Tier III compliance, an upgraded bow thruster is also specified. A 5t pull winch with 40m of line along with a heavy-duty crane with a lift of 25.1t at 5.79m and a 12t pull tugger winch with 100m of wire are included in the deck gear itinery.
Tom Nevin, HST director states: ‘We want to offer clients the same HST quality within the marine logistics and general marine contracting fields as we do in the crew transfer segment with High Speed Transfers Ltd. We see the Multi Cat 2309 as a real multi-role vessel, offering our customers unique capabilities and versatility.’ This thinking is reflected in the specifying of enhanced crew comforts including en-suite cabins with satellite television and high-speed internet connectivity with fleet system and VSAT.
Mr Nevin states that Damen’s customer finance option was ‘very helpful’ adding: ‘we are very excited to be building another vessel there.’ HST expects to increase its workboat fleet in the future while for Damen, sales manager Frederik van der Linde states: ‘We are very grateful to be given this opportunity to support HST as it expands its business activities. This demonstrates Damen’s ability to aid its clients across multiple sectors, providing one point of contact for diverse vessels types, for support throughout the entire lifecycle.’
By Peter Barker
