Nigeria’s Homeland receives another Damen patrol vessel

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Nigeria’s Homeland Integrated Offshore Services Limited has received another Damen 3307 patrol vessel, taking its fleet up to three. A fourth is currently under construction.

Damen said in a statement this week that Guardian 3, along with its sister ships Guardian 1 (delivered in February 2014) and Guardian 2, is now providing security and other support services to the international offshore oil companies active off the coast of Nigeria in the Gulf of Guinea, in cooperation with the Nigerian Navy.

The Guardian series of 3307 Patrol vessels are themselves unarmed, but in the course of their duties carry security personnel along with their firearms. Protection for those on board is provided by an armoured wheelhouse and internal safe haven (citadel), while accommodation for up to 16 people enables them to remain at sea for extended periods of time, Damen said.

Other features on board Guardian 3 include 15 extra seats for crew transfers, thermal imaging apparatus, a Fast Rescue Craft, a self-cleaning fuel separator to protect the engines and generators from contaminated fuel and a FuelTrax fuel management system that measures, monitors and reports on fuel consumption and efficiency. In-country maintenance services and technical support will be provided by the Damen Service Hub in Port Harcourt.
“We are excited to have received our third FCS 3307 Security vessel from Damen Shipyards, whilst awaiting the delivery of the fourth in the fourth quarter of 2017 and the planned acquisition of the fifth vessel,” stated Louis Ekere, Managing Director and CEO of Homeland.
“Homeland is one of the few Government-approved, private maritime security companies operating in Nigeria, so the delivery of Guardian 3 has added tremendous value to our ability to provide turnkey security services to our clients and to meet their specific offshore and onshore deliverables; namely security protection of offshore oil and gas installations, passenger and crew transfers and emergency evacuation, cargo transfers and generally to provide security services to deter and intervene in piracy attacks which makes the maritime waterways safer for the benefit of all legitimate stakeholders.”

The FCS 3307 class features the pioneering Sea Axe bow that gives the vessel improved seakeeping behaviour, even in challenging conditions, by cutting through waves rather than going over them. The FCS 3307 has a length of 33.57 metres and deck area of 70 square metres. The aluminium vessel is powered by three Caterpillar engines with a total of 2-3 500 kW. Top speed is around 30 knots.

Homeland was founded in 2006 to support international oil companies working in Nigeria’s offshore oil and gas fields. It now operates a sizeable fleet that includes fast supply intervention vessels, platform support vessels, anchor handling tug supply ships, security and patrol vessels, and tugs.