RSV Nuyina: Reporting from the warranty period ‘down under’

Since arriving at her home port of Hobart, Tasmania in October last year, the Damen Naval-built RSV Nuyina has already completed two operational voyages into Antarctic waters. Even though the 160-metre-long icebreaker was officially handed over to its owner at the end of summer 2021, Damen still has a key role to play. This is due to the fact that the vessel is still covered under a warranty. “The warranty period runs for a period of two years,” says Michiel Schittekat, Damen Naval’s warranty manager for the Nuyina. “On top of that, we still have our final contractual milestone to pass; this will take place in her third trip to the Antarctic, when she will be carrying out her icebreaking trials.”

The RSV Nuyina set out from Hobart on her first operational voyage to the Southern Ocean just before Christmas. It was during this inaugural trip that the vessel passed her so-called cold weather trials. During her second voyage she carried out resupply tasks to Australian research stations located on the Antarctic continent.

Michiel first got involved with the Nuyina in 2015 just before the contract was signed, continuing his work by supporting the engineering and construction phases. “It continued all the way to the Sea Acceptance Trials and the handover process. Working with Lloyd’s Register to sort out the classification, and thereafter sailing from Vlissingen to Hobart.”

In his work as warranty manager, Michiel’s job is to sort out any outstanding problems that are still experienced on the ship. “My job is to work with the suppliers and the client – making sure that all the different stakeholders work together to fix any remaining issues,” he says. “This involves everything from propulsion to scientific systems, navigation systems, even down to a garbage bin. This multidisciplinary aspect is one of my favourite things about the job. It is a complex ship with complex challenges.”

Together with Damen Services Brisbane service engineer Peter Alberda and support from specialists in the Netherlands, Michiel has “sorted out 325 warranty claims within the last eight months”. While all of the issues are being solved locally, one outstanding issue from the build phase required a roundtrip to Singapore. “The vessel is at this moment in a Singaporean shipyard for reworks of the clutch (AFC), which requires specialist skills from a shipyard. In the meantime, we can benefit of this situation to solve larger warranty issues in the meantime.”

On her return from Singapore, the Nuyina will take on her final contractual milestone: her ice-breaking trials. “Because the vessel is an icebreaker, we have differentiated the sea trials into ‘non ice-breaking trials’ and ‘ice-breaking trials’. And although she did break some ice during the first voyage, this time will be with maximum ice thickness and maximum speed. I hope to go on this voyage; the sea trials are nice to be involved with. But obviously I will be able to go only if my other warranty duties allow it,” he adds.

Michiel’s work with the Nuyina will continue for the remainder of the two-year warranty period, and he will be based in Hobart for the duration. What does he think of living ‘down under’? “It is absolutely beautiful. My girlfriend and our dog have joined me out here for a new life for two or three years. I have bought a Land Rover and have equipped it to go and explore Tasmania. We try to get out as much as possible on the weekends, but that all depends on where the ship is. If she’s back in port, then it’s very busy getting things sorted before the next voyage.”