Damen secures a massive Kuwait order

An extensive process of yard pre-qualification and tender evaluation finally resulted in an award to Damen this summer. The order covers the supply of vessels from two of Damen’s most successful designs, nine of the recently introduced ASD Tug 3212 with a bollard pull of 80 tonnes and five of the well established ASD Tug 2810 of 50 tonnes bollard pull.

Although based on existing Damen designs, the tugs will be extensively tailored to meet KOC’s exacting requirements on layout, systems and performance. Damen’s naval architects and designers in The Netherlands have already started work on the development of this unique series of state of the art tugs. Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania will be constructing all 14 units, with deliveries scheduled from 2014 onwards.

The ASD 3212 was introduced formally to the towage market at the ITS 2012 event in Barcelona at the end of May this year. At that time the first batch of vessels were being completed and thanks to Damen’s extensive marketing campaign and feedback from the owners of the very first tugs, 36 tugs are now in service, on order, or under construction. The ASD 3212 design has benefited from the many years of development spent on the ASD product range and the company’s participation in the industry sponsored ‘Safetug’ project for tugs capable of shiphandling and operation offshore and in exposed locations.

KOC’s other choice, the smaller ASD Tug 2810, is a success story backed up by substantial operator confidence and feedback. Although virtually unchanged externally, a huge amount of development has been expended on the design. Now in its third generation, over 140 tugs of the type are in service, on order or under construction.

As part of KOC’s long term strategy of increasing the country’s export capacity, substantial investments are being made to expand the marine facilities in coming years. The new tugs will be assisting tankers at shoreside loading terminals and at the new single point moorings further offshore, for which they will also be equipped with a powerful fire fighting system.

The cooperation between KOC and Damen goes back to late 1980’s, when Damen delivered steel crew/pilot tenders and the large fire fighting/terminal tug Sabahi to KOC. In the early 1990s, after liberation from the Iraqi invasion, Damen delivered to KOC a complete new fleet of tugs, crew tenders, workboats and mooring boats. Damen has supported KOC throughout all these years with provision of technical services, spare parts, and maintenance/renovation assistance.