Damen launches 69m superyacht support vessel Game Changer

Dutch support vessel specialist Damen has launched the second hull in its Yacht Support 6911 range, which has been named Game Changer.

Designed in-house and built on speculation from a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, this 69.19 metre launch follows on from the first Yacht Support 6911 Intrepid, taking the total number of Damen superyacht support vessels launched to 11.

Mark Vermeulen, product director at Damen, said: “Our clients want to go to exciting new destinations with less established superyacht infrastructure and they want to have more fun with larger tenders, larger helicopters and submersibles.

“They also want to take more staff, guides, pilots and security personnel with them,” he added. “Game Changer is the massive leap forward in capability that they need, but at a much lower cost than a larger yacht. Plus, they get all the benefits of flexible operations and privacy.”

Key features include 250 square metres of open deck space for storing tenders and water toys via the large deck crane. A further 110 metres of storage space below decks creates the perfect spot for a dive centre.

What’s more, Game Changer boasts a fully certified superyacht helipad, which means that owners can travel with a larger helicopter and land in a wider range of weather conditions.

With deep provision storage and quarters for 22 crew and staff, Game Changer would make the ideal companion for an 85 metre mothership, Damen adds.

Power comes from four 3,000hp MTU 16V4000 M63L diesel engines for a top speed of 20 knots and a maximum cruising range of 4,500 nautical miles at 16 knots.

Other superyacht projects currently under development at the Dutch yard include the first Damen SeaXplorer 65, which is due to hit the water in 2019.

more info at http://www.boatinternational.com