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Herman Senior starts building multipurpose vessel at UAE shipyard
Steel has been cut on a multipurpose vessel for a Dutch owner seeking to expand its fleet to support more offshore and marine construction projects
Netherlands-headquartered owner Herman Senior has ordered multipurpose vessel (MPV) Smokey from Middle East shipbuilder Albwardy Damen. The 50-m MPV will be built at its shipyard in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates where a steel-cutting ceremony has been held.
Smokey will have a DP2-class dynamic positioning system from Kongsberg, a beam of 17 m, an offshore heave-compensated crane and a secondary knuckle-boom crane. Its 305-m2 deck space and heavy-duty deck load capabilities of up to 20 tonnes per m2, will make it ready for lifting and transporting equipment in challenging offshore environments. Delivery is scheduled for Q2 2027.
“Smokey is designed to support a wide range of offshore operations,” said Herman Senior. “With a strong focus on DP2 positioning performance, efficiency, versatility and sustainability, this vessel represents the next step in Herman Senior’s fleet expansion.”
Once constructed, Smokey will have Bureau Veritas and Dutch Shipping Inspection certifications, accommodation for 34 people in crew and client cabins, an integrated bridge system with Furuno radar and dual ECDIS and satellite communications to SpaceX’s Starlink constellation, as well as L-band back-up.
Herman Senior currently operates six Shoalbuster and six multicat vessels supporting marine construction, shallow water towage, salvage and offshore projects.
Its latest addition to this fleet, Brutus, was delivered in May 2021 by Damen Hardinxveld in the Netherlands and was the first Shoalbuster to be built with DP2, according to the Dutch shipowner.
Offshore Support Journal Conference, Middle East is being held in Dubai, UAE, 9-10 December 2025, bringing together the region’s leading vessel owners, oil and gas companies, EPC contractors, and technology providers for a pivotal industry gathering. Use this link to learn more about the event and to register your attendance.
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