Norwegian boat-handling systems supplier Vestdavit has won a tender from Chantiers de l’Atlantique to supply davit systems for four new logistic support ships (LSSs) ordered by the French Navy.
The replenishment ships are being built under the French Flotte Logistique (FLOTLOG) program. Last year, Chantiers de l’Atlantique signed a EUR 1.7 billion deal for the construction of the vessel quartet.
FLOTLOG ships will be built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Naval Group in cooperation with Fincantieri which will provide technical assistance and deliver some parts of the hull.
The double-hulled vessels will ultimately replace the French Navy’s current, single-hulled LSSs and will be deployed to support France’s blue-sea combat fleet commitment to Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR).
With the first vessel to be handed over by the end of 2022, deliveries will be completed by 2029.
Vestdavit will supply two PLD-6000 A-frame davits for interception craft and a single PL-3600R davit for fast rescue per ship to ensure safety and crew comfort in missions worldwide in unforgiving seas.
Photo: Vestdavit
“This is a huge breakthrough for us following months of intense engineering work and ensures an eight-year collaboration with Chantiers de l’Atlantique on this very prestigious project,” Redouane Lahsen, Vestdavit project lead and area sales manager, said.
Specifically, Vestdavit’s PLD-6000 type davit is designed specifically for the flexibility and speed needed by interception vessels and can handle everything from leisure craft to work boats. It has a load-bearing capacity of up to six tons and remains effective even beyond sea state 5.
Thanks to Vestdavit’s modular design, the PLD-6000 can be equipped with a docking head and guiding arms and to handle unmanned surface vessels (USVs) or underwater autonomous vehicles (UAV’s) if required. Meanwhile, the PL-3600R davit is designed for fast rescue craft and has a safe working load of 3.6 tons. Fully equipped with shock absorbers, guiding arms and a self-tension system as standard, the PL-3600R ensures stability in conditions up to and including sea state 5.
With the LSS-types expected to operate for 40 years, Vestdavit project lead Redouane Lahsen says that the shipyard’s selection criteria demanded launch-and-recovery systems that would be built to last and allow easy, low-cost maintenance.