Damen Brest books tenth LNG carrier repair contract

MAY 20, 2014 — Damen Shiprepair Brest (France) has received its tenth LNG carrier repair order since joining the Damen Group. It has been placed GDF Suez in-house technical vessel manager Gazocean and will see the 74,646 cu.m GDF Suez Global Energy receive extensive maintenance work.

The vessel was delivered as Gaz De France Energy in 2006 by shipbuilder Chantiers de L’Atlantique in St.Nazaire and was renamed in 2009. The vessel was the first LNG carrier fitted with dual fuel diesel electric propulsion, now a new standard of the LNG shipping industry and has a GTT CS1 type LNG containment system.

The vessel will stay in the shipyard for approximately 55 days of which 20 days will be in dry dock.

The shipyard was well known for its LNG expertise in the period when it operated under the SOBRENA name. Since its acquisition by Damen Shipyards Group and its reopening in April 2012 slowly it has slowly but surely regained market share of northwestern European LNG carrier dockings.

Damen Brest’s Managing Director Jos Goris comments: “The long established relationship of the yard which dates back from the SOBRENA times with both Gazocean and GDF SUEZ GLOBAL GAS & LNG has certainly helped us in securing this order. Following nine foreign LNG carriers under Damen management, all employees are proud to see the first French owned LNG carrier in our yard.

“The LNG experience and know-how in France is second to none with companies like GDF Suez, GTT, Europe Technologies/ERI, Cegelec, CryoStar, APERAM, AMRI all contributing to the French LNG expertise cluster. This adds an enormous value to the service we offer our international clients.”

GDF SUEZ LNG Senior Vice President Operations & Technical Shipping Mr. Jacques Sainson comments: “GDF SUEZ is very happy to return to the Brest shipyard and is confident to obtain the best service under the Damen flag.”

Damen Shiprepair Brest employs over 200 staff and has three graving dry docks. The largest dry dock measures 420 m x 80 m and is one of the biggest in Europe, allowing the yard to accommodate almost any ship in the world.

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