Angola’s New Fishery Research Vessel Delivered

Damen Shipyards Galati has made provisional delivery of the 74-meter fishery research vessel Baía Farta to the Angolan Ministry of Fisheries. The vessel will remain in Galati until November, when she will set sail for Angola where the final delivery will take place.

With a 1,600 km Atlantic coastline, the development of the domestic fishing industry is a priority of the Angolan government and it currently employs over 100,000 people in both commercial and artisanal fishing.

The Baía Farta, a Damen FRV 7417 type vessel ordered in July 2016 and officially launched in November 2017, is equipped for the full range of fisheries research and assessment activities including hydrographic operations, acoustics research, pelagic and demersal trawling, plankton, water, environmental and geographical sampling, oil recovery and emergency towage operations, the shipbuilder said.

The Baía Farta has been built to Silent-A/F/R Class notation standards. To maximize her effectiveness in her role, every care has been taken in her design, construction and outfitting to minimize underwater noise as well as onboard internal acoustic noise and vibration, Damen said. The rigidity of foundations and supports for all potentially noise and vibration-generating components and systems are being thoroughly checked to ensure that they comply with the Silent notation. The shipbuilder noted that expertise from Damen Shipyards Gorinchem and Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding  also contributed to the vessel's development.

“Over the next few weeks the Angolan team will be taking the Baía Farta through its final tests and checks before they head out into the Atlantic for their voyage home,” said Friso Visser, Damen Regional Director Africa. “We are confident that she will prove to be a highly efficient and effective vessel, and will in the years ahead play a valuable role in the development of the Angolan fishing industry.”

The Angolan Ministry of Fisheries and Damen have worked together in the past, with Damen having supplied two, 62-meter, FRV 6210 Fishery Inspection Surveillance Vessels and a smaller Fishery Research Vessel (FRV 2808).