Damen to build fourth Patrol Vessel for Equador

Damen Shipyards will supply a fourth Stan Patrol 2606 type patrol vessel for the Ecuadorian Coastguard under a contract with Astinave (Ecuador) - Astilleros Navales Ecuatorianos announced on 1 May. The vessel will be the last of the SPa 2606 series to be built locally.

Damen will supply the detailed engineering of the vessel together with a complete material package to Astinave.

Astinave has been working with Damen for more than a decade under a Strategic Alliance Framework Agreement. The company has built a large number of vessels with Damen, including tugs, cutter suction dredgers, fast crew suppliers and patrol vessels; and has also built ships to the Damen standard. The company’s personnel received theoretical and practical training at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem (Damen’s HQ in the Netherlands) and other locations in order to mutually achieve a high level of quality in present and future projects.

Due to the experience gained over this time Astinave will not require on-site technical assistance from Damen for this project.

The Ecuadorian Coastguard currently operates three Damen Stan Patrols 2606. The 87ft vessels are outfitted with advanced equipment, and are used to conduct patrol duties in Ecuadorian waters.

Damen’s Technical Cooperation programme enables customers to build high quality vessels in their own countries and/or a shipyard of their own choice, gaining experience and being able to contribute to the development of the local shipbuilding industry and economy. In Latin America there are currently Damen vessels under construction at third party shipyards in Mexico, Ecuador, Brazil and Argentina, among others.