UZMAR Shipyard held the keel laying ceremony for a series of four RAmpage 6000DE diesel-electric offshore terminal support vessels. The vessels are being built for SMIT Lamnalco and will support ExxonMobil’s offshore terminal operations in Guyana.
Before the ceremony, senior representatives of Boskalis, ExxonMobil, Robert Allan Ltd. and SMIT Lamnalco attended a conference on the progress of the project and inspected the vessels under construction on site. The ceremony featured speeches by Mr. Mike Fitzpatrick, CEO and President of Robert Allan Ltd.; Mr. Robert Jan van Acker, CEO of SMIT Lamnalco; Mr. John Jacobs, Manager Term Trading & Business Development at ExxonMobil; and Mr. A. Noyan Altuğ, President & CEO of UZMAR Shipyard. The ceremony culminated in a symbolic keel laying performed by advanced robotic welding arms, a contemporary take on one of shipbuilding's oldest traditions.
Designed by Robert Allan Ltd., the RAmpage 6000DE is tailored for offshore terminal support duties, with diesel-electric propulsion for efficient, flexible operation across varying load profiles. With a length overall of 60 metres and a beam of 16.4 metres, the vessels deliver 135 tonnes of bollard pull ahead and 120 tonnes astern from a total installed power of 9,680 kW, with a maximum speed of 14.5 knots. Four main generators provide full power generation redundancy, designed to keep the vessels on hire, and their extended endurance allows more than 60 days of continuous offshore duty. DP2 capability, Fire Fighting 1 class notation and integrated oil recovery and dispersant systems equip the vessels for terminal support and emergency response offshore Guyana.
Mr. Mike Fitzpatrick, CEO and President of Robert Allan Ltd., said: "To build a truly exceptional vessel, you need five critical elements: a strong design from an experienced naval architect, high-quality equipment, an experienced shipyard committed to delivering a world-class product, an operator involved from the earliest design stages, and an end client like Exxon that clearly understands its operational requirements and the value of a customized design. I’m very pleased to say that all five of those critical pillars are in place for the construction of these tugs."
Mr. Robert Jan van Acker, CEO of SMIT Lamnalco, said: "Today’s keel laying ceremony marks an important milestone in a project that represents one of the most significant investments in SMIT Lamnalco’s history. It reflects years of collaboration between ExxonMobil, UZMAR, Robert Allan Ltd. and our team to develop a vessel design that combines safety, reliability and operational excellence. As Guyana continues its remarkable growth as a global energy hub, these vessels will provide the reliable marine support needed to help underpin safe and efficient offshore operations for many years ahead."
Mr. John Jacobs, Manager Term Trading & Business Development at ExxonMobil, said: "At ExxonMobil, nothing is more important than safety and operational integrity. These values are deeply embedded in how we operate and in how we select our partners. We seek to work with organizations that share our commitment to protecting people, safeguarding the environment, and delivering excellence in everything they do. I am proud to say that UZMAR, SMIT Lamnalco, Robert Allan Ltd., and Boskalis exemplify those values. Together, we have built a partnership founded on professionalism, technical excellence, and mutual respect. Those shared principles have been instrumental in bringing us to today’s milestone and will continue to guide us through the successful delivery of this vessel."
Mr. A. Noyan Altuğ, President & CEO of UZMAR, said: "The keel is the backbone of a vessel. Everything she will become is built on it. From today, these are no longer drawings. They are powerful vessels taking shape, and they will be the strongest tugs ever built in Türkiye. Building four vessels of this size and this power, side by side, is not something every shipyard can do. We can, and we are proud of it. They are built to keep going: each one has four generators on board, so if one stops, the others carry on. Our partnership is built the same way: no single point of failure, every partner backing the others. Every great vessel starts with a keel, and every great partnership starts with trust. Today, we are laying both."
Delivery of the first vessel in the series is scheduled for November 2027. The project further strengthens UZMAR's position as a builder of advanced offshore and terminal support vessels for international operators.