It’s fitting that a superyacht-support vessel from a successful series gets christened Game Changer. The nearly 230-foot (70-meter) Game Changer is the newest Damen Yacht Support vessel, soon to lend extra fun to her owner’s enjoyment of the water.
While she’s the first Yacht Support launch of the year, Game Changer is the fourth overall measuring 230 feet plus. Her predecessors include Garçon, from 2012, as well as Intrepid and Fast & Furious, both delivered last year. Also of note, a few further Damen Yacht Support vessels are under construction.
Since a support vessel can carry extra toy and even personnel, it probably comes as no surprise that Game Changer does both. For one, she has a helicopter hangar. When the owner and guests need to be picked up on land and taken out to the primary yacht, the helicopter gets pressed into service. Then, the helicopter can return to the support vessel for stowage. The hangar protects it from sun, salt, and other environmental factors, plus has refueling capabilities.
Nearly 2,691 square feet (250 square meters) of more on-deck space caters to further tenders and toys. Neither Damen nor Amels, which markets the craft for Damen, its parent company, are elaborating on what these toys are. Regardless, Game Changer features a crane to launch and retrieve them. The vessel also has a good-size stowage and dive center below decks. It comprises 1,184 square feet (110 meters).
Besides all of this, Game Changer can additionally carry abundant provisions, spare parts, and even luggage when long-range trips are on order. And, finally, 22 crewmembers and personal staff can stay aboard and use dedicated offices aboard. If that head count seems high, consider the clientele attracted to the Damen Yacht Support offerings. As Mark Vermeulen, Damen’s product director, says, “They also want to take more staff, guides, pilots, and security personnel with them.”
Here’s a time-lapse look at the launch:
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