Damen ramps up offshore construction capability
The HVDC topside at Damen Shipyards Mangalia in Romania (Source: Damen)
Damen Shipyards Group is gearing up to provide a new offshore construction service to include design, fabrication, and delivery of major components. With two projects already in progress, it has identified offshore wind as a sector of particular promise, especially the floating segment. But it is also keen to enter other offshore energy sectors, as well as aquaculture.
The company’s largest shipyard in Romania, Damen Shipyards Mangalia, is set to play a significant role. The facility is capable of handling large construction modules and has a semi-automated production line. It also has blasting and painting cells, a 1,000 tonnes gantry crane, and other equipment that enhances production efficiency, the company said.
The two projects already under construction at the Romanian facility are high-voltage direct current (HVDC) offshore transmission units ordered by Aker Solutions as its main engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) contractor. When the topsides are completed, they will be taken to Aker’s Stord facility in Norway, where the HVDC equipment will be installed.
Aker Solutions’ HVDC director, Arne Engevik, commented: "Damen Shipyards Group is a key partner for us in offshore wind. Their facilities are well-suited for fabricating these types of structures, and the company shares our passion for delivering large, complex projects safely and sustainably. We have built a very strong relationship with the company over the last years and consider Damen as an integral part of successfully delivering our HVDC portfolio."
Wouter Henstra is commercial manager at Damen Offshore Construction. "We are very pleased that Aker Solutions, a leading supplier of integrated solutions, products, and services to the global energy industry, has chosen Damen Shipyards for these projects," he said. "We are confident that the HVDC topsides will fulfil their roles for many years to come, and we are delighted to be expanding the contribution that we already make to the roll-out of much-needed offshore wind generation capacity."
