Tug delivery round-up

A feature of shipbuilding is where yards take advantage of the economies of partial or even complete construction in lower cost countries, sometimes on the other side of the world to its domicile location. Damen is one such company, all the vessels here coming from China and Vietnam, in some cases bound for the same continent from where they were ordered with Damen.

In October 2018 MV Tasmantic Winter arrived in Rotterdam from China via the Northern Sea route with a consignment of 24 vessels from Damen’s Changde and Yichang yards built for stock. On board was one of its smallest tugs, yard number 503202 a Stan Tug 1606 which as Multratug 24 has found a new home with Terneuzen-based Multraship Towage & Salvage. The BV-classed vessel flies the Romanian flag and is currently operating on Romania’s Black Sea coast.

Capable of towing, mooring, pushing and survey operations Multratug 24 is powered by Caterpillar C18 main engines driving fixed-pitch propellers in nozzles delivering 16.8tbp and speed 11.4kn. Built as an air-conditioned day-boat, the vessel has a basic deck arrangement of a 25-ton Mampaey towing hook aft and push bow with 300mm cylindrical fendering.

Last month MJ reported on Damen’s ASD Tug 2312 Svitzer Jupiter, one of its ‘next generation’ tugs featuring a semi-enclosed towing winch: three more have joined the growing list, all from Damen’s Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam.

VB Gallardo is the first to examine, delivered to Compañía Maritima Mexicana, part of Boluda Group with a sister vessel VB Galante currently under construction at Song Cam Shipyard. A Caterpillar/Rolls-Royce main engine/thruster arrangement provides 62tbp and the LR-classed VB Gallardo has fifi1 capability via a main engine-driven pump, a double-drum towing winch just forward of midships and MLC 2006 compliant accommodation for six persons.

Another Boluda Group company, Compañía Maritima del Pacifico is now operating the second ASD Tug 2312 mentioned here, CMM Centenario. Specification is similar to VB Galante, additional detail worth mentioning includes: fuel oil capacity 806m3; Azcue bilge, GS, fuel oil and fresh water pumps and a comprehensive navaid fit including from; Navi-Sailor, Furuno, Cassens and Plath, Simrad, Skipper, Jotron and Gill Instruments.

The third ASD Tug 2312 delivery involves Ajax for WUZ Port and Maritime Services of Poland, a company providing a wide range of services. This will be the fifth Damen tug in its 15-strong fleet that includes conventional, ASD and tractor tugs, along with a floating crane and pilot boat.

The ASD Tug 2411 is one of Damen’s most popular marques with around a hundred examples delivered since the first, 2003-built Barunga for Adsteam Marine Australia. Yard number 512285, Omar-Dankali has now been delivered by Damen Changde to Great Horn Investment Holding SAS of Djibouti.

As the designation indicates, basic dimensions are 24.72m LOA and 11.33m beam with draught aft of 5.55m, performance figures include a respectable 71.5tbp. Deck equipment follows conventional shiphandling layout featuring a two speed 150-ton brake winch forward and provision for towing over the stern from a 100-ton Mampaey hook. The typically robust fendering arrangement is supplemented by tyre fenders around the foreship.

Only slightly larger, the ASD Tug 2813 is another ‘next generation’ Damen product with around 20 examples on the list in the short space of time of under two years. Flying the Mexican flag Saam Huasteca, another Song Cam Shipyard product has joined the fleet of SAAM Towage.

With accommodation for ten persons at forecastle and main deck level the 84.8tbp Saam Huasteca is notable for its escort towing capabilities including steering force 75t and braking force 90t at maximum escort speed of 10kn. It is currently showing as operating at Veracruz in Mexico.

The ASD Tug 2810 is another well-established Damen marque with over 150 delivered so far and Hamburg-based Louis Meyer GmbH recently held the christening ceremony for another example in the Peter Wessels, delivered just four months after ordering.

Notable options include an aft winch for coastal towage of barges, sewage treatment plant, boiler, and heated windows. Currently stationed at Emden, Peter Wessels is Louis Meyer’s second Damen tug and follows the ASD Tug 2411 Jan named in June 2019.