Construction will comply with the requirements of Germanischer Lloyd and delivery to the Hamburg based owner is scheduled for 2005.

Designed for shiphandling, the new tug will be a vessel of 30.65m in length overall with a beam of 11.75m employing two fully steerable azimuthing propulsion units mounted beneath the forward portion of the hull. The vessel's configuration follows closely that of earlier Bugsier tractor tugs but in recent years the tugowner has chosen Voith Schneider propulsion units. Although no engine or azimuthing propulsion system manufacturers have yet been disclosed, the completed vessel will be powered by engines of 4,050kW and achieve a bollard pull of 65 tonnes and free running speed of 13 knots.

Earlier in the year K Damen signed a contract with Svitzer Wijsmuller for the supply of two 14m mooring launches and one 14.65m pilot boat for use in Egypt.

The two vessels will be constructed at an Egyptian yard under the total supervision and responsibility of staff from the Dutch shipyard. The third contract is with the Dutch company - Mercurius Shipping for the delivery of what is to be known as an AMS Barge . A vessel of 86m in length the AMS Barge has a breadth of 11.45m and the capacity to carry 144 standard 20ft containers. The barge will be unique in having its own hydraulic crane for loading and discharging its cargo of containers.