The Dutch shipbuilding group Damen Shipyards is continuing its collaboration with the Bahamas: four vessels belonging to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) are being refitted.
The patrol vessel refit programme has been awarded to the Damen Shipyards Group by the Government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The four RBDF patrol vessels are to be returned to service for the protection of the country’s waters.
The offshore patrol vessels “Rolly Gray“ and “Arthur Dion Hanna“, which were built to the Damen Stan Patrol 4207 design, are to be refitted. These will be joined by the patrol vessel “Cascarilla” (Damen Stan Patrol 3007) and the logistics support vessel “Lawrence Major” (Damen Stan Lander 5612). Damen is carrying out the work on the first three vessels in the Netherlands, whilst the “Lawrence Major“ will be taken on by the Cotecmar shipyard in Colombia, a Damen partner in the region. This is intended to ensure that the vessel is available again more quickly.
Damen, the RBDF and the Bahamian Ministry of National Security have been working together for twelve years. Dutch shipbuilding helps to strengthen maritime security, search and rescue services, disaster relief and coastal protection for the Caribbean islands.
Tried-and-tested vessel types
The Damen Stan Patrol 4207, with a length of 42 metres, is one of Damen’s most successful patrol vessel designs and is operated by coastguards and navies worldwide. The Damen Stan Lander 5612 – represented in the RBDF fleet by the ‘Lawrence Major’ – plays a crucial role, according to a statement from the shipyard, in logistical support as well as in humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations throughout the Bahamian archipelago.
The signing ceremony took place during a visit by a delegation from the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to Damen Shipyards in Gorinchem.
“We are proud to continue supporting the Government of the Bahamas and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force as part of this important programme,” said Bastin Kubbe, Regional Service Manager for the Caribbean at Damen Services. “These contracts reflect the trust that our organisations have built up over more than twelve years of collaboration. We look forward to successfully carrying out this modernisation work and helping to ensure the continued operational readiness and capability of the RBDF fleet.”
Minister Myles LaRoda emphasised the Government of the Bahamas’ commitment to border protection, national security and restoring the operational readiness of the RBDF fleet. The programme – involving the repair and modernisation of the vessels in collaboration with a trusted partner – will help ensure that the Royal Bahamas Defence Force can continue to protect the country’s borders, assist people in distress at sea and serve the people of the Bahamas in the future.
