Damen Shipyards Group and Astilleros Navales Ecuatorianos (Astinave) have signed a contract to construct two Damen Stan Patrol 5009s for the Ecuadorian coast guard. The Astinave shipyard will build both vessels locally in Ecuador with Damen Technical Cooperation (DTC), which will deliver on-site technical assistance, according to a Damen release.
DTC is supplying Astinave with prefabricated kits to build the vessels. Damen’s agreement with Astinave includes on-site technical assistance during the construction and commissioning periods.
The coast guard specified that both vessels must have the capacity to accommodate 32 people operating for up to 30 days without external support – something that required a number of design adaptations.
Although this latest contract represents the first Damen Stan Patrol 5009 for Astinave, the yard has built up considerable experience with Damen designs over the years, according to the release.
The Stan Patrol 5009s, to be built locally with Damen technical assistance, will be capable of a 30-day endurance, with a crew of 32. Damen image
“We see Astinave not only as a client but also as a partner,” says Damen Sales Manager Americas Ezequiel Najmias. “Our relationship with them started more than a decade ago, when both parties signed a Strategic Alliance Framework Agreement.” Following the first building contract in 2007, “Astinave has built a great number of vessels in cooperation with Damen, including tugs, cutter suction dredgers, fast crew suppliers and patrol vessels.”
The two new Damen SPa’s 5009 will be used for general patrol duties, and have a top speed of 23 knots provided by four fixed-pitch propellers. The Ecuadorian coast guard specified that both vessels must have the capacity to accommodate 32 people operating for up to 30 days without external support – something that required a number of design adaptations, according to the release.
“Our most challenging modification was to change the standard accommodation layout to fit one extra bed in each room without losing comfort,” explains Najmias. “By increasing the fuel capacity to 90m3, enlarging the storage and freezer rooms and installing a powerful water-maker, both vessels will be able to operate autonomously for 30 days.” Ecuador’s coast guard already operates three Damen Stan Patrol 2606s, with a fourth currently under construction at Astinave’s facilities on the banks of the Guayas River. After delivery of the two patrol vessels, the fleet will total six Damen builds.