Second of fourteen from Damen for Kuwait

CEO of KOC, Mr Hashem Sayed Hashem recently attended the naming ceremony of the vessel at Damen’s Galati facility and follows delivery of the first of the series KOC Muhab. Tugs & Towing will doubtless return to this significant multi-vessel order as and when deliveries continue so this allows the opportunity to provide some background to the order.

The requirement was for fourteen tugs to assist tankers at near-shore loading terminals and new single point moorings offshore Kuwait and the design and build contract was signed in September 2012. The two companies have enjoyed a lasting relationship spanning 25 years, dating back to when Damen supplied several fast crew vessels and a large terminal tug following the country’s liberation from the Iraqi invasion. All of the vessels are being constructed at Damen’s Galati Romania shipyard.

KOC’s long-term strategy involves increasing the country’s export capacity with substantial investments being made in expanding their marine facilities in coming years, this in turn created the requirement for a series of tugs of different bollard pulls and subsequently the order for nine 80tbp ASD 3213 azimuth tugs (at the time of ordering, the new model had been recently launched) and five slightly smaller 50tbp ASD 2810 azimuthing tugs was placed.

Guests at the naming of KOC Shahem were welcomed by Damen CEO René Berkvens who stressed the value of the long-term relationship with KOC: “The cooperation between KOC and Damen dates back a quarter of a century, when Damen delivered several fast crew vessels and the large FiFi and terminal tug Sabahi to KOC. Today, we are extremely proud – once more – in having another magnificent project together”.

By Peter Barker