Damen introduces new Landing Utility Vessel

First Damen LUV 1608 was delivered July 26

The aquaculture industry got its first look at a new Damen designed support vessel, July 26, when  Coastal Workboats Scotland delivered the first Damen Landing Utility Vessel 1608 to client Loch Duart.

The LUV 1608 is built by Coastal Workboats Scotland to a Damen design that was engineered by Damen design bureau OSD/IMT. The vessel will be able to carry out a wide range of support tasks to the aquaculture industry, including the transportation of people, equipment and feed to offshore fish-farming locations. A key feature of the LUV 1608 is the hull design, which has been developed to accommodate a HS Marine AK67 E4 Crane. This size of crane offers very high capability not usually seen in a vessel of 16 m with close to 14 t lifting capacity at 3.5 m and 3 tonnes at 13 m

The LUV 1608 hull can also be built at 19 meters in length to provide additional deck capacity. The development of the LUV 1608 has drawn on the expertise of a number of shipbuilding and the aquaculture specialists. The concept, for a Utility Vessel (UV),was expanded to have landing craft functionality to ensure a wider geographical reach for operations in areas with less port infrastructure.

As is usual with Damen Shipyards standardized vessel designs, the LUV 1608 can be customized to meet individual client requirements. This is demonstrated with this first vessel for Loch Duart, whose tailored features include tire fenders, location of capstans and foot pedals.

“The development of the Damen LUV shows our commitment to aquaculture, an industry we believe is part of the solution when it comes to feeding the world of tomorrow,” said Damen sales manager Mike Besijn. “The functionality of the vessel shows that we are listening to the market and responding to its needs. And, as is the culture at Damen, we are working with the experts in the industry to ensure that what we deliver is both relevant and reliable.”