Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam (DSAm) is converting a platform supply vessel into a fish feed carrier for Norwegian fish feed distributor, Eidsvaag.
The vessel, now renamed Eidsvaag Opal, was part of a six-vessel order Damen built for the offshore supply company, World Wide Supply, and was delivered in 2013.
“One of the main things that made Damen stand out as a strong candidate in the tender process was their previous experience with the vessel,” explained Vidar Eidsvaag, general manager and owner at Eidsvaag.
DSAm was deemed the most suitable yard based on its facilities and proximity to Niron Staal, Damen’s specialist steel fabricator. The first task was the removal of the main deck, after which the vessel was cut in half and the sub-contractor Mammoet moved the aft section of the vessel ten metres back in order to allow space for the fitting of the new 4.9m section.
In total, 650 tonnes of new steel will be fabricated by Niron Staal and installed in Eidsvaag Opal while she is in drydock at DSAm. Three hundred tonnes of redundant ship’s structure will also be removed as part of the conversion process.
The project will also include increasing the beam with side boxes to give additional stability and extra cargo capacity. When complete, the vessel will be able to transport 2,800 tonnes of feed at a time.
