On 21 May, Damen Shipyards Group signed a contract with Protunus for the delivery of a Multi Cat (MuC) 2712. The vessel will strengthen the operational capabilities of Protunus and Pro Liquid and will support both in-house operations and international charter activities.

Fast delivery

As a result of Damen’s stock building programme, the MuC 2712 was already under construction at the shipbuilder’s yard in Gorinchem, the Netherlands, when the order was placed.

Damen builds its vessels in series and on speculation, allowing its clients to take advantage of short lead times. Damen will deliver the MuC 2712, which will be named Protunus, in Q4 2026.

Well-established reputation

Protunus selected the vessel based on the strong reputation of Damen’s Muc series and the versatility these vessels offer within the offshore and maritime support market.

The MuC 2712 is designed for operations in unrestricted waters and is suited to a wide range of duties including anchor handling, dredge support, offshore support, towage, pushing, transport and hose handling.

Protunus and Pro Liquid intend to deploy the vessel globally in support of offshore, salvage, terminal and liquid cargo related operations.

The vessel offers 32 tonnes of bollard pull, a spacious wheelhouse and comfortable accommodation. It features a 150 m² deck area and deck store, two heavy-duty deck cranes and an anchor handling winch. A bow thruster provides increased manoeuvrability.

Tailored vessel

While the MuC 2712 is based on Damen’s proven design, the vessel has been tailored with several options to meet Protunus’ operational requirements. This includes enlarged accommodation facilities, a changing room, additional towing pins and a winch installation on the crane.

The MuC 2712 is also designed to be IMO Tier III-ready. In order to comply with the regulations, Protunus has opted to install a Damen Marine NOx Reduction System, a selective catalytic reduction system (SCR) that reduces NOx emissions by 80%.

Damen Sales Manager Benelux Marc Tijssen, said, “We are very proud to be delivering another MuC 2712 to a Dutch client – Protunus. This contract is the result of pleasant and open discussions. During our communications, Protunus has provided us with clear input regarding what they expect from their vessel. We have, of course, been very happy to incorporate this into the design and construction – this flexibility being a feature of our modular, series building philosophy. As a result of this, I am fully confident that the vessel will prove fully aligned with Protunus’ requirements.”

Master and Co-owner of the vessel Ryan van de Pol of Protunus, said, “The Protunus represents an important next step in strengthening our operational capabilities. The vessel will support both our internal projects and international charter activities, while maintaining the flexibility, reliability and versatility required within the offshore and maritime support sector.”