“Charting New Waters: Damen to Craft Innovative Icebreaker for DMS Maritime in Australia”
On April 28 during a ceremony in Hobart, Tasmania, the Australian Government signed a contract with DMS Maritime, a wholly owned subsidiary of Serco, for the acquisition, operation, and maintenance of an Antarctic Supply Research Vessel (ASRV) equipped with icebreaking capabilities. The vessel will be constructed by Damen Shipyards Group and will be vital for the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) program in the coming years. The event was attended by Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julia Bishop, and Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt.
In regards to the choice of Damen for the design and construction of this vessel, Serco CEO Asia Pacific Mark Irwin commented, “Damen is a distinguished global shipbuilding entity with a substantial international presence. Besides constructing a wide array of standardized vessels in series, Damen has created numerous custom ships, including those for scientific, hydrographic, naval, and ice-breaking purposes. The partnership between Damen and Serco is strong, and over the past decade, Damen has delivered more than 40 vessels that have supported naval operations in the UK and Australia.”
The realization of this vessel will capitalize on the proficiency of various companies within the Damen Shipyards Group and Damen’s extensive network. KNUD E. HANSEN from Denmark prepared the concept and bid designs, while engineering and project supervision will be handled by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) in Vlissingen, Netherlands. The assembly and outfitting of the vessel will take place at Damen Shipyards Galati, Romania.
Damen Sales Director Asia Pacific Roland Briene stated, “By leveraging the diverse skills within our organization, we are capable of integrating every aspect to ensure a cohesive and complete project execution. An ice-breaking research and supply vessel such as this signifies a new market entry for Damen, and we are excited to partner with AAD and DMS on this historic project.”
The ASRV represents a groundbreaking solution, engineered to support Australia’s broader initiatives in exploring the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. The vessel will span 156 meters in length, with a beam of 25.6 meters. It will have the capability to break ice up to 1.65 meters thick at speeds of 3 knots and will supply Australia’s permanent research stations in Antarctica and Macquarie Island with cargo, equipment, and personnel. With 500 m2 of onboard laboratory and office spaces, the vessel will also enable research operations. The ASRV will be able to accommodate up to 32 DMS Maritime crew members and as many as 116 AAD scientific staff, including a physician, in climate-controlled quarters.
The AAD program aspires to advance Australia’s scientific, strategic, environmental, and economic interests in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. This is a leading initiative focused on stewardship, climate research, and the analysis of both terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
Upon completion at Damen’s Galati facility, the ASRV will head to DSNS in the Netherlands for handover to the client, which is anticipated for April 2020.
