Under present plans, the 12 and 14m Pushycats will be discontinued and be replaced by a new StanTug 1205 and an enhanced version of the existing StanTug 1405. But the Pushycat name will not disappear as a new Pushycat 1004 is on the drawing board.

The new Stan Tug 1205 is an interesting development that embodies many of the features of the redesigned Stan Tug 1606 and Stan Tug 1907. A very similar hard chine hull has been chosen, with a similar bow and single push knee, an overall length of 13.08m, a maximum beam of 5.28m and draft of approximately 2m. An all welded steel hull incorporates 10mm sides and bottom plating, 6mm deck and bulkheads, and a 15mm sheerstrake.

The specific deck load is given as 1.5 t/m. Internal tanks will have maximum capacities of 5m3 of fuel, 350 litres of fresh water, 350 litres of sewage and 340 litres of bilge water. Two Caterpillar 3406C TA/A diesels will provide a total of 644 bhp to drive fixed pitch propellers via Twin Disc MG 5091 gearboxes. High performance Optima nozzles will be fitted along with two double plate rudders. A bollard pull of 8.4 tons is anticipated and a free running speed of close to 9 knots.

The main engines will be keel cooled and a Stirling SIHI VW, 24 m3/hr fire fighting and bilge pumping system is to be installed. A small 230v 50 Hz single phase generator will be fitted and there will be a normal battery system for engine starting and auxiliary use.

A neat, well glazed wheelhouse design follows closely the style of the new ST 1606 and incorporates large aluminium framed windows. Basic navigational and communications equipment to a good standard will be installed in the production boats.

Considerable thought has been given to the reduction of noise and vibration in this latest Stan Tug design due to the very close proximity of the wheelhouse and main engines. Damen has for the first time introduced a resiliently mounted wheelhouse in addition to extensive insulation and synthetic rubber floor coverings in all accommodation areas. Seating and a table for two persons is located in the wheelhouse and below decks an optional double berth bunk, a kitchen unit and sanitary facilities are available.

The first two prototype Stan Tug 1205 tug/workboats are currently under construction at Kozle in Poland. It is just over a year since the first of the new Stan Tug 1606 tug/workboats were delivered to Belgian dredging contractors Jan de Nul by Damen Shipyards Galatz in Romania. During that first 12 months of production 17 vessels have been constructed and indications are that this new product will prove to be as popular as is predecessors the Stan Tug 1605 and the earlier Stan Tug 1.

At least 14 of the vessels mentioned were sold almost immediately, six to Jan de Nul and the remainder to ports in the Middle East, Sudan, Germany and New Caledonia. Production is scheduled to continue in both Galatz and China.

The first examples of the Stan Tug 1606 arrived in the Netherlands only a few months ago. Damen took the opportunity to bring two fully fitted and two partially completed vessels to Rotterdam aboard a new feeder cargo ship on its delivery voyage from the Galatz yard. One of the quartet delivered by ship is the Helmut for German owners Hans Schramm of Brunsbuttle.

The other fully fitted tug has been temporarily renamed Ina and is currently being used as a demonstration vessel, giving west European operators their first opportunity to see the new design.