Damen provides purpose-built "chaser" vessels

The vessels, to be employed on operations guarding the expensive streamer arrays trailed by seismic vessels from getting tangled up in trawler nets, causing costly damage. The term “chaser” literally describes the heading-off of fishing boats from a seismic vessel’s path. Normally, chaser boats are made from other kinds of converted vessels, but the Damen twins are the first to be purpose-built for the task.

“Indeed, all our other SRS Chaser vessels so far involve converted fishing trawlers”, explains Henk Groen, director and proprietor of offshore company Rederij Groen. “Having designed them to our specific needs right from the drawing board, significantly enhances the vessels’ deployability and performance. Their sharply reduced sway and manoeuvrability are just two examples.”

The vessels will also service the seismic “mothership” in other ways, including the board-to-board transfer of goods and equipment, via a 2t deck crane. The 105sq m of free space at the aft deck provides sufficient storage capacity to include several ISO maritime containers. An aggregate 16cu m of temperature-controlled cells cater for other auxiliary services.

“Seismic research is done at a sailing speed not exceeding four knots. At such low speeds, the ship needs to be both stable and maintain good manoeuvrability”, Henk Groen says. SRS vessels also measure sea current near offshore rigs to ensure a safe close passage for the seismic survey ship. “So keeping lane at very low speeds is vital for this precise work.”

Astra-G is currently working at its first assignment in the Barentz Sea.

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