Nigeria’s Homeland orders additional Damen patrol vessels

Nigeria’s Homeland Integrated Offshore Services Limited, an oil company security services provider, has ordered two more FCS 3307 vessels to be built by Damen.

According to the contract, the Damen Group is taking care of delivery and crew training, as well as the design and build. Damen’s Local Service Hub in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, will ensure that maintenance, repairs and any additional support is handled by Damen engineers.

Homeland supports international oil companies working in Nigeria’s offshore oil and gas fields by providing engineering, procurement, construction, installation and security services.

Like the first two vessels (Guardian 1 and Guardian 2), the primary mission of the two new Guardians will be carrying out security patrols for the production companies, as well as occasional transfers of crew and supplies. The 33-metre vessels will have 18 bunks for crew and security personnel.

According to Damen, the wheelhouse is bullet-proof and additional equipment includes 15 seats for crew transfers, thermal imaging, a diesel powered SOLAS fast rescue craft and an additional fuel separator to protect the engines and generators from contaminated fuel.

Homeland Managing Director Louis Ekere commented; “Both us and our clients have been delighted with the performance of our first two FCS 3307 Patrol vessels. They remain the most capable craft of their type operating off the coast of Nigeria and we already have charter contracts lined up for both of them. Having the support of the Damen Local Service Hub gives us the utmost confidence that they will consistently operate at full capacity and capability.”

Already under construction as part of Damen’s build-for-stock policy, the Guardian 3 is almost complete except for some additional items and Guardian 4 will be ready within a few months, for delivery in the second quarter of 2017.