The second of two Damen Shoalbuster 3009 multi-purpose workboats for SMIT Amandla Marine has been named in a ceremony at Damen Shipyards Cape Town, South Africa.
With De Beers Group Services the end client, the Lady Sponsor for the occasion was Mrs Adri Nelson, Supply Chain Centre Manager for De Beers Group Services in Port Nolloth.
Named Aogatoa, the vessel is the second of two Shoalbusters 3009 ordered by SMIT Amandla Marine for the De Beers contract and built at Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT). The first, Aukwatowa, was delivered in December 2015.
Throughout both builds, DSCT has had the full cooperation of Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld, the yard behind the development of this class. The Dutch yard has transferred the necessary technology and provided full support to ensure a top quality end result.
The Shoalbuster range of multi-purpose, shallow draught workboats is designed for all types of operations in inland and coastal waters. The 30m 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. With the shallow waters of the port making it accessible only to vessels with draughts of 2.8m or less, the minimal draught of the Shoalbuster was an important factor in SMIT Amandla selecting the class.
