Damen FCS to serve French offshore wind market

Damen has sold one of its Fast Crew Suppliers to French workboat operator Atlantique Maritime Services (AMS). The Damen FCS 2610, named JLD Jayce, will be the first Damen Crew Transfer Vessel fully dedicated to the French offshore wind industry.

AMS, which is part of Groupe LHD, already owns two Damen Shoalbusters, a 1907 and a 2308. Rodolphe Bodineau, AMS deputy director, explains that the company’s previous experience with the Damen Shoalbusters led to it considering the FCS 2610 for the developing renewables sector: “This is the first time we have bought a crew transfer vessel. We are very satisfied with the Shoalbusters and know that Damen has a very good reputation in the offshore wind market as well. We have also formed a good bond with Damen over the last few years and are even considering buying more Damen vessels.”

AMS is located very close to the Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm, which is under development, and the Guérande wind farm. The company is already supporting a French floating wind demonstration project.

JLD Jayce is the fourth pre-owned Damen FCS 2610 to be sold through Damen’s ship brokerage division Damen Trading & Chartering, (part of Damen Marine Services), since the beginning of last year. The Damen division handled the initial trade-in from the former owners, the refit and final sale to AMS.

Before delivery, JLD Jayce underwent a partial refit and technical check-up at Damen Shipyards Den Helder. “Our new vessel arrived in Saint-Nazaire recently and several potential customers have already visited so we are confident that JLD Jayce will soon be busy in the offshore wind sector in France, initially in the construction phases of the wind farms and then eventually the O&M phase,” continues Bodineau.

“We are very optimistic that there are plenty of opportunities in France, with eight projects underway, and that we can find our place within the French wind farm sector and in Europe in the longer term.”