United Arab Emirates

Albwardy Damen

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6617" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Shipyards (Company)">Damen Shipyards</a>’ 80.01-metre converted humanitarian support vessel&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11179" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dawn80.1m (262'10&quot;)Damen Shipyards2021">Dawn</a> has been sighted for the first time, as she returns back to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6617" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Shipyards (Company)">Damen Shiprepair &amp; Conversion</a> shipyard in Amsterdam following sea trials near Den Helder, the Netherlands. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/251326/image/large-8c380b8af534efb681355ea18f86dc29.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/251326"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11179" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dawn80.1m (262'10&quot;)Damen Shipyards2021">Dawn</a> began life as a <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6617" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Shipyards (Company)">Damen</a> PSV 3300 CD and her sea trials signal that her transformation is nearing completion. She’s constructed with a steel hull and superstructure, to an original design and engineering by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6617" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Shipyards (Company)">Damen Shipyards</a>. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/251331/image/large-54150f0d1eaa041ac45a1183f3533a03.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/251331">Her navy blue hull and pearl white superstructure cut an imposing figure. Notwithstanding her open aft, complete with two heavy-duty cranes and helipad. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11179" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dawn80.1m (262'10&quot;)Damen Shipyards2021">Dawn</a> is expected to exceed 4,000 GT of interior volume, and can accommodate as many as 10 guests and 16 crew. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/251327/image/large-9a02dd9bb36b4c8927fe38833c2d6e94.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/251327">When it comes to grunt, in her original form, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11179" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dawn80.1m (262'10&quot;)Damen Shipyards2021">Dawn</a> was equipped with twin Caterpillar engines that delivered a cruising speed of 13.5 knots.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/251330/image/large-782e29c8c6f38d6fe2643d74b92d602f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/251330"> <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/251329/image/large-49807d80b985bee54fd12642064cfafd.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/251329">Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/55384" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Shipyards' 80m support yacht U-81 completes conversion (2022-06-22 10:15:00 +0200)">Damen Shipyards' 80m support yacht U-81 completes conversion</a><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11179" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dawn80.1m (262'10&quot;)Damen Shipyards2021">Dawn</a> and her original sistership <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11888" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="U-8180.1m (262'10&quot;)Damen Shipyards2022">U-81</a> – both originally built in Vietnam – are once again together at the same facility, as both are now at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6617" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Shipyards (Company)">Damen Shipyards</a>’ Amsterdam facility. The two projects were separated for conversion, with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11888" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="U-8180.1m (262'10&quot;)Damen Shipyards2022">U-81</a> completed at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5782" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Albwardy Damen (Company)">Albwardy Damen</a> shipyard in Sharjah, UAE, whilst <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11179" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dawn80.1m (262'10&quot;)Damen Shipyards2021">Dawn</a> was sent to Amsterdam. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/251332/image/large-79fb9163a762f49e1df8de74f9e66ffc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/251332"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/251334/image/large-f6e0de080de4318fe95eb88326ab11e9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/251334"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/251335/image/large-a0dfcb30420bebd4a10db8cfe016cb50.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/251335">

80m Damen Shipyards yacht Dawn on sea trials 

Damen Shipyards’ 80m support yacht Dawn spotted on sea trials. Dawn began life as a Damen PSV 3300 CD. 

80m Damen Shipyards humanitarian support vessel Dawn on sea trials 

The 80.1-metre support yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11888" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="U-8180.1m (262'10&quot;)Damen Shipyards2022">U-81</a>, one of the largest superyacht support vessels ever constructed, was recently completed at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5782" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Albwardy Damen (Company)">Albwardy Damen</a> shipyard in Sharjah, UAE. The vessel left the shipyard on 17 May 2022 and arrived in Palma on 2 June 2022.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/231494/image/large-6fe89b5cd64dec65e8cd2f991ffabc40.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/231494">She did not, however, start her life as a superyacht support vessel. Her construction was started in Vietnam at the Ha Long Shipyard to the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6617" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Shipyards (Company)">Damen</a> Platform Supply Vessel 3300CD design. Both <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11888" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="U-8180.1m (262'10&quot;)Damen Shipyards2022">U-81</a> (hull 552045) and her sistership (hull 550244) – which is now under conversion into the 80.1-metre Humanitarian Vessel at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6617" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Shipyards (Company)">Damen Shipyards</a> – began construction in 2015. While hull 552045 and hull 550244 were launched in 2016, neither were completed and speculation would suggest that the collapse of oil prices between 2014 and 2016, and the subsequent crisis in the offshore oil industry caused the projects to be put on hold. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/231240/image/large-b396bd1fe8cf9649accea9f81b0d36a2.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/231240">In 2019, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6617" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Shipyards (Company)">Damen Shipyards</a> then marketed the two vessels in the hope of finding an owner to complete the projects. However all went quiet until the appearance of the vessels in transit on the back of a semi-submersible transport vessel, arriving in <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5782" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Albwardy Damen (Company)">Albwardy Damen</a> shipyard in Sharjah. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/231232/image/large-441c46cdb10ae779092e99617e4fb09b.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/231232">Hull 552044 was quickly brought into Class and left under her own power for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5161" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Shiprepair & Conversion (Company)">Damen Shiprepair &amp; Conversion</a> in Amsterdam, where she is currently under conversion. Hull 552045 (<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11888" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="U-8180.1m (262'10&quot;)Damen Shipyards2022">U-81</a>) stayed behind and was sold for conversion in early 2022. It seems that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5782" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Albwardy Damen (Company)">Albwardy Damen</a> has done all the work on <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11888" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="U-8180.1m (262'10&quot;)Damen Shipyards2022">U-81</a>. &nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/231236/image/large-1675435d4a241f1d276aed3aee817ac5.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/231236">Not many details are known about the conversion, but from the pictures we can see a large helipad has been added. Most of her decks are still pretty empty, so it remains to be seen what kind of tenders and toys her experienced owner will put on her decks. &nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/231237/image/large-313c8ab4cd734122eb2b868253c20291.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/231237">The new owner appointed <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/37" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture (Company)">Azure Yacht Design</a> for all recent work completed in relation to the exterior design, naval architecture and basic engineering. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/37" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture (Company)">Azure</a> worked in close collaboration with the owner's team throughout to ensure that this notably large superyacht support vessel matched a very specific set of support yacht requirements.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/231236/image/large-1675435d4a241f1d276aed3aee817ac5.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/231236">

Damen's support yacht U-81 completed

The Damen conversion support yacht U-81 has completed her conversion and arrived in Palma.