Damen Project Manager Arnoud
Both explains: “This is a clipper with an Arabic touch. Our
design partners toured Oman seeking inspiration for its interiors
and furnishing. Finishing touches include hand-carved teak at the
bow, teak palm leaves at the stern, and gilded interior wood work
from Hertel.” Shabab Oman’s main sail will also catch
the eye – its khanjardagger in a sheath superimposed upon two
crossed swords motif is the emblem of Oman.
“However, this is also a working training ship equipped to the
most modern standards,” says Both. “Tall Ships capture
the public imagination and win friends as they glide gracefully into
port, but Shabab Oman is also key to the recruitment and training
underlying the fleet expansion.”
The new clipper is the third example of Damen’s working relationship
with Dykstra Naval Architects, following the delivery of Stad Amsterdam
training ship and the Brazilian navy’sCisneBranco.Its traditional
profile houses cutting edge bridge systems from Imtech Marine/Alewijnse
and controls from Johnson, Both says, describing “an internal
re-engineering” to meet higher air AC demand.
“Shabab Oman will feature three generators plus an emergency
back-up unit, compared to the two,” says Both, “so that
each cabin has AC. For reasons of redundancy, she will also have a
twin propeller shaft arrangement.” All internal spaces have
been designed for low noise and vibration.
Managed from Damen headquarters in Gorinchem, the clipper was principally
constructed at Damen Shipyards Galati, Romania then towed to the Vlissingen
yard where the 50m steel/aluminium masts, rigging and spars were installed
and finishing works undertaken.
Given the vessel’s training role, Both says Damen takes considerable
pride in its role in training the crew that will operate Shabab Oman
II.“Even for experienced sailors, this is a complex sailing
ship with 35 sails, each of them operated via eight ropes. We provided
a hands-on training course to the crew on board another Damen Sail
Training Vessel Stad Amsterdam, and separate training for executive
officers and technical officers.”
