Damen Maaskant has delivered a new beam trawler, ‘Z-26 Avanti’ to the Depaepe family of the Devan Shipping Company in Zeebrugge, Belgium.
The 38m long vessel is designed for great hauling power with lower fuel consumption and better seagoing properties due to reduced drag in the water. The design of Avanti spans the maximum length and tonnage allowed by Belgian maritime regulations. This is the second vessel built to Damen Shipyards’ BT3808 design. Specific modifications for Devan make the vessel specifically suited to the Belgian company’s methods, being customised to achieve the latest standards of comfort, technology and sustainability.
Project manager John van der Maas said: “Devan Shipping Company aimed for a highly efficient and profitable ship. Damen Maaskant modified the design together with SIP Marine to reduce fuel consumption and increase hauling power. The ship also has an imprinted anode system on board, ICCP, eliminating the need for anodes on the hull. This has the main effect of reducing drag. Cooperation with all subcontractors went like a well-oiled machine. This ultimately lead to an excellent end result.”
The hull was built and launched in Gdansk in Poland and then finished at the yard in Stellendam. The trawler was quickly finished within the agreed timeframe despite the pandemic.
Steve Depaepe, owner of Devan Shipping Company, said: “A new fishing cutter for our Flemish fleet gives young fishermen hope for a future at sea and inspires new childhood dreams. My captain and crew are eager to go to sea with this magnificent vessel, equipped for comfortable and safe fishing trips.”
The yard’s aims of high quality, service and partnership with customers are said to be characteristic of the Damen Maaskant Shipyards family business in Stellendam. The shipyard is determined to maintain those qualities and develop them further in the years to come.
Commercial manager Jeroen van den Berg said: “It is our goal to remain a leader in the development and production of innovative and sustainable vessels for growing, harvesting and catching food from the sea. In this way, we want to secure the future of our industry for generations to come.”
