The Netherlands: Braveheart Shipping Signs First ‘Guardian’ Contract

On 22 June 2012, Braveheart Shipping baptized its Javelin 22.22 “Guardian”. Guardian is the first Javelin built and developed by Javelin International by order of Braveheart Shipping. With this ship, especially being used for survey activities, Braveheart is further expanding its fleet and consequently extending its working area to Sea Area A3. The ship is usable for survey and crew tendering activities as well as the construction and maintenance of windparks.

Characteristic for the ship is the stability system and the features of the underwater ship. The objective is to extend the working area to a higher swell. Survey data can currently be recorded up to a swell of more than 4 meters while the crew continues to enjoy optimal comfort.

On the basis of the knowledge and experience J. Hakvoort Holding has gained in the world of survey and crew tendering and together with the expertise of its partners, Javelin 22.22 came into existance.

The baptism

Caroline Hakvoort, wife of Jelle Hakvoort, owner of Braveheart Shipping, baptized the ship in the middle of a select group. Afterwards, an opportunity was offered to test sail the ship.

Technical specifications

The ship is 22.22 meters long, 6.62 meters wide and equipped with two Caterpillar C32 screw-driven engines of 957 kw each. The maximum number of knots that Guardian is able to sail is 25.

Partners

The stability, comfort and speed are the most important pillars of the ship. Javelin 22.22 was tested and calculated by the Marin Institute in Wageningen to optimize the stability (roll and pitch) of the ship.

Seakeeper, world leader in gyro stabilization systems, distributed in the Netherlands by ‘Kemper en van Twist’, took care of the stabilization system. Vripack and KD Workboats have both been involved from the drawing table and the latter was responsible for the construction.

Immediately at work for Boskalis/ Heinrich Hirdes

A few hours before the baptism, it was announced that Boskalis/Heinrich Hirdes assigned Braveheart Shipping to use Guardian for the TenneT Export Cable Project. As of end of June 2012, Guardian conducts survey/supply activities in an ammunition field ROV. From the Eemshaven as the basis, Guardian operates in the working area at Borkum, the objective being to clear the area of dumped ammunition.

The ship will also be used for crew transfer and provisioning. This project is in preparation of the construction of a windpark project above the islands. “The reason our project chose Guardian, is that the ship knows a unique combination of speed, comfort and versatile usability. Think of jobs that are traditionally begin accomplished by much heavier anchor handling ships“, says Frank Seubring, project manager Boskalis Heinrich Hirdes.

Fifteen minutes before Guardian was baptized, Seubring and Hakvoort signed the contract.

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Offshore WIND staff, July 11, 2012; Image: Braveheart Shipping