Damen has received a contract to deliver 24 vessels that will support the Royal Navy in a wide range of operations. The scope of services covers towage, passenger transfers, and cleaning of barges and tanks. Serco acts as the main contractor, with Damen providing the newbuilds as subcontractor.
The Dutch shipbuilding company Damen Shipyards has received an order from Serco to build 24 ships of various types. The background to this is a ten-year contract that the British service company recently concluded with the British Royal Navy. As part of the “Defense Maritime Service Next Generation” (DMSNG) Vessel Replacement Project, Serco will provide maritime services at the naval bases in Clyde, Devonport and Portsmouth.
The scope of services includes towing services, passenger transfers and cleaning work on barges and tanks, which are essential for operations in the ports. Serco is acting as the main contractor for the project, while Damen is supplying the newbuildings as a subcontractor.
The order includes ASD and RSD tugs, pilot boats, barges and crane barges. The aim is to modernize the Royal Navy’s auxiliary fleet and replace older units. Delivery of the newbuilds is scheduled for 2027 to 2028. Damen will then provide support in the areas of spare parts, maintenance and training via its UK service hub.
Damen has a long-standing partnership with Serco
The cooperation between Serco and Damen goes back many years. Damen supplied 29 vessels for the Future Provision of Maritime Services program back in 2007.
Frederik van der Linde, Sales Manager UK & Ireland at Damen, spoke of a “significant order” and praised the “complementary cooperation” between the two companies. Guy Barker, Maritime Services Director at Serco, described the project as an “important step towards modernizing the Ministry of Defence’s auxiliary fleet”.
Damen says it operates 35 shipyards and 20 other companies in 20 countries worldwide and is supported by a global sales and service network. Each year, the group delivers around 100 ships with a production value of over €3 billion. Damen directly employs around 12,500 people.
