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Damen FCS 5009 m/v Leonardo, gets an upgrade that defies the roll of the sea
In a continuous effort to integrate revolutionizing products and ideas into the offshore crew and cargo transport industry, Damen has over the years, partnered with multiple innovative equipment manufactures to integrate and retrofit complimentary developments into their vessel designs.
Over the past year, Leonardo, a Damen FCS 5009, owned by the leading offshore crew transport company in Mexico, Naviera Integral, was the focus of an international collaboration that spanned companies, oceans, and a global pandemic. After over a year of engineering, planning, restricted travel, experimentation and hard work, the joint efforts of this multi-company and multi-faceted team resulted in the successful installation and testing of a VG1000 SD gyrostabilizer, a powerful gyroscopic stabilizing device built by Australian company VEEM Marine, onboard the FCS 5009.
Upgrade for popular workhorse The Damen FCS 5009 is a popular ship among organizations that support the global offshore industry. This vessel, and the coming FCS 7011, are well positioned to become the choice modes of transportation for crew and supply delivery as the modern offshore industry shifts toward safer and more sustainable options. The FCS 5009’s speed, efficiency, seakeeping, and crew and cargo capacity all cater to the industry’s operations, but a need for advanced stabilization to further increase safety and passenger comfort, particularly while at zero
speed and using dynamic positioning, was recognized and Damen was quick to identify a solution. The VEEM Gyrostabilizer uses an electrically driven flywheel housed in a vacuum chamber to generate stabilizing toque with hydraulic precision, this arrangement generates forces that resist the roll motion produced by waves and is particularly effective when traditional stabilizers are not. After Leonardo underwent installation, sea trials, and testing, the success of the upgrade was clear. With the vessel
