Vestdavit inks multi-davit contract for Canadian Coast Guard’s vessels

Norwegian davit supplier Vestdavit has landed a contract to deliver high-specification davits for six multi-purpose vessels to be built for the Canadian Coast Guard at Seaspan Shipyards in Vancouver.

As informed, the company will initially provide a total of six FF-15000 davit systems – one for each vessel.

This contract also includes options for a further ten such units under its second contract secured with the Canadian shipbuilding group.

According to Vestdavit, the contract represents its biggest-ever order with a major company.

It comes on the heels of an order that Vestdavit won last year with Seaspan to supply RHIB davits for the polar icebreaker, also soon to be under construction for the Canadian Coast Guard.

In February this year, Seaspan completed the construction of the prototype block for the Canadian Coast Guard’s (CCG) Polar Icebreaker program. 

“We are extremely honoured to have been awarded an additional contract with Seaspan and entrusted with such an extensive davit delivery, which we consider to be a strong vote of confidence from the shipbuilder in the proven reliability of our boat-handling systems,” said Magnus Oding, General Manager of US subsidiary Vestdavit.

The hydraulically operated FF-15000, which is an adaptation of a larger FF-type davit delivered for an earlier project, is based on the F-frame system that comprises a large frame with no structure behind or underneath the daughter craft. According to Vestdavit, this will allow greater flexibility in the shape and volume of the boat being handled, with the main structure aft/forward of the boat.

The flexible, deck-mounted davit, with a 15000kg safe working load (SWL) capacity, can operate in both single and dual-point configurations for optimal performance with various sizes of craft.

It will be able to handle both a 9-meter self-propelled barge and 7.5-meter RHIB, as well as a 20-foot ISO container by incorporating into the system adjustable lifting points that allow for handling of boats and containers with different lifting points, size and weight.

The motion-compensated davit also incorporates advanced features such as shock absorbers, dual winches that each have independent constant tension and an anti-pendulation device with guide arms for maximum stability to safely launch and recover boats in rough sea conditions.

The new multi-purpose Vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard are intended to operate year-round on Canada’s eastern and western seaboards and will support services such as icebreaking in moderate conditions, maritime search and rescue, scientific research, environmental response, emergency towing, maintenance and deployment of buoys, as well as support for offshore fisheries patrols.