Delivery and order round-up

It would be wrong to consider concerns about container ship operators forging ahead with orders for larger vessels in an already overcrowded market with forecasts of falling rates in the same sense as the current steady stream of tug orders. Tugs traditionally have long lifespans and fleet renewal is a natural occurrence along with the requirement for more power to handle the ever-larger container vessels mentioned above and increasing demands for greener operations.

Ports of Auckland has ambitious goals for zero emissions and provides the most significant news this month with the order of a fully electric 70tbp shiphandling tug from Damen. The model is significant, being the third example of the innovative RSD 2513 (designated RSD-E Tug 2513) and follows the first two Innovation and Multratug 6 operating for Kotug Smit (now Boluda) and Multraship respectively. Tugs & Towing will return to this important news in forthcoming issues.

Damen has also reported the signing of two other contracts covering three tugs. Agreement has been reached with Karachi Shipyard & Engineering for a Damen Technical Cooperation Material Package for two ASD Tugs 2009 to be operated by the Pakistan Navy.

Damen’s Stan Tug 1606 is a popular choice for smaller tug operators and Spanish ferry operator Baleària has taken delivery of an ‘E3’ version of the 1606 named Rolon Plata II which Damen state is the first Tier III compliant tug to operate in the Mediterranean and Baleària’s first Damen-built vessel.

Another Mediterranean-based ferry (and tug) operator Moby has held the naming ceremony for one of Damen’s latest generation tugs the ASD Tug 2813 Vincenzino O. Another example of growing interest in green options, the tug is prepared for installation of the ‘plug and play’ Damen SCR NOx Reduction System. Additional and interesting options include: fifi1, oil recovery and salvage notations, the salvage capability enhanced by a stern roller, independent double-drum winch and crane aft.

Finally from Damen, Hamburg-based Fairplay Towage Group has taken a new ASD Tug 2411 on long-term bareboat charter from Neue Schlepp Louis Meyer also of Hamburg. Fairplay XV had the previous name Jan briefly and provides 5,000bhp and 70tbp. It was built at Damen’s yard in Guangzhou China and fitted out at Stellendam in the Netherlands to meet German flag requirements, the compact design making it ideal to work in the Kiel Canal locks and narrow harbour basins.

Sanmar has interesting news including an order for a 24m, 70tbp Bogacay class tug for Ineos FPS to operate at Hound Point Forties crude oil export terminal in the Firth of Forth in the UK. Targe Towing has managed towing services on behalf of the owners for the past 25 years and on the back of this, immediately ordered an identical tug for its own north east Scottish port operation, joining the Kittiwake another Bogacay class tug operating successfully for Targe. Another item of news we hope to return to.

Further success for Sanmar will see a series of four Sanmar exclusive Bogacay class tugs built in Quebec for Canada’s Department of National Defence. Sanmar highlight how the model features its own considerable input as an experienced operator in its own right, augmented by knowledge gained from nearly 40 examples of this type delivered around the world.

Italy’s Cafimar Group is another company in the midst of adding new tugs to its fleet with the imminent completion of the last in a series of three vessels built at various Turkish shipyards. Cafimar operates in three ports in Italy and north west Sicily.

Finally, Robert Allan Ltd has reported the delivery by Cheoy Lee Shipyards of two of its 80tbp RAstar 3200 class tugs Mai Po and Sung Kong to Hongkong Salvage & Towage along with two pilotage and towing vessels, Jin Gang Lun 31 and 32 to Tianjin Port China. Both 36tbp vessels are products of Zhenjiang Shipyards in Jiangsu Province, China.