Petersen & Alpers order the first Damen ASD 2913

This latest addition to Damen’s range of ASD tugs built to standard designs is intended primarily as a highly manoeuvrable, powerful tug, ideally suited for busy harbours where space is limited. With at least 75 tonnes bollard pull the ASD Tug 2913 fits neatly into the existing product range, between the extremely popular ASD Tug 2810 with a 60 tonnes bollard pull and the powerful offshore terminal tug ASD Tug 3212 introduced last year.

Frank de Lange, Damen sales director for South, North and West Europe, explains why Damen decided to introduce a new tug type in the ASD series.” Vessel sizes are increasingly growing, while ports are still restricted by their physical size. Customers were requesting more powerful tugs, but they still have to be compact so they can operate in harbours which are lacking space. Developing a new compact type with a bollard pull of 75-80 tonnes was a logical step for the Damen series. For the ASD Tug 2913 we adopted a similar design philosophy as for the new ASD Tug 3212 and although the new vessel is primarily a harbour tug, it also has very good seakeeping capabilities.”

The new ASD Tug 2913, with its additional 13m beam, will be very stable and comfortable for the crew. In keeping with the existing vessels in the range, the new tug is well equipped for push/pull operation and can be fitted with an aft winch as an option. The tug is also the first Damen tug to have a double skin hull to comply with the latest safety regulations and satisfy customer demand. In general, the new tug will incorporate most of the standard features and attention to detail which have made ASD tugs in the product range so popular with operators.

This first tug will be delivered towards the end of 2014.

Petersen & Alpers is one of the oldest maritime companies in Germany and a very discerning client. Now in its seventh generation, it has headquarters at St. Pauli Landungsbrücken, Hamburg. The company is a member of the ‘Joint Service’ of the local tugboat companies for the Port of Hamburg and operates a fleet of five modern, well maintained tugs with bollard pulls of 30 to 70 tonnes in Hamburg and in Klaipeda, Lithuania.

Peter Lindenau, managing director of Petersen & Alpers, is very pleased to be the first customer for the new tug. He said; “This will be the second Damen tug in the company’s fleet, following on from an ASD Tug 2411 which has been in operation for the last four years in Hamburg. We have had a good experience with Damen tugs and have also seen our competitors using them. Our new Damen vessel will be particularly suited for the Port of Hamburg, which has very small basins. Seagoing vessels are getting bigger and bigger. A highly maneuverable compact tug with more power was needed. So the Damen ASD Tug 2913 was the right tool for Hamburg.”