OTC Houston: Damen, GustoMSC Unveil DG JACK

The Netherlands-based Damen Shipyards Group and its compatriot GustoMSC are joining forces in order to produce a range of self-propelled and non-self-propelled jack-up platforms for the offshore industries – the DG JACK range, the companies said at this year’s Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston.

“These jack-ups form an expansion of the Damen portfolio targeting the offshore markets in oil & gas, renewables like offshore wind, and civil construction,” GustoMSC Managing Director, Nils van Nood, said.

Working together in this way, GustoMSC and Damen will be able to cover everything from basic design, through construction, to after-sales care, anywhere in the world.

“The DG JACK will provide a bridge between the offshore energy sectors and offer the versatility to carry out multiple and varied tasks, safely, efficiently and at competitive rates, in line with market expectations,” Damen Chief Commercial Officer, Arnout Damen, said.

The DG JACK range, which is based on offshore markets feedback, will operate across the offshore spectrum, in both renewable and non-renewable sectors.

“In the oil & gas markets, the demand for self-elevating service vessels such as the DG JACK range is driven largely by operation and maintenance (O&M) requirements. Age significantly increases the amount of topside repair, maintenance and refurbishment the operator must undertake for the platform to remain serviceable and compliant. In such circumstances the DG JACK represents an extremely cost-effective solution,” Damen Head of Business Development, Peter Robert, said.

“At the same time, shallow water offshore fields remain a major source of production. With enhanced technology and recovery, combined with the relatively low cost of production compared to deep and ultra-deep water locations, such sites will ensure a continuing demand for the DG JACK range, particularly at this time of low oil prices,” Robert added.

Operational experience to date has shown that jack-up vessel intervention has been required at operational windfarms to correct failures in relation to main components, both for isolated defects and to introduce design improvements, Damen Shipyards said.