Two-tug Damen order bound for the Panama Canal

In June 2016, commercial operations commenced at the expanded Panama Canal, the project involving construction of two new sets of locks, one on the Atlantic and one on the Pacific side involving the canal’s largest infrastructure project since opening in 1914.

The expansion followed a decade of planning including consideration of a number of alternative solutions all in response to a demand to accommodate not only natural growth in trade but increasingly larger vessels.

While the existing system uses rail-mounted ‘mules’ to manoeuvre ships within the locks, Panama Canal Authority chose to use tugs within the expanded locks. This new arrangement has attracted publicity within the industry, some observers questioning the feasibility and safety of the new system.

Considerable investment has been made in upgrading the canal’s tug fleet including the employment of tugs from outside towage contractors and this order, signed at the Panama Maritime XIII World Conference followed the awarding of a contract to Meyer’s Group to offer towage support in the new Panama Canal locks. With bollard pulls of at least 80 tonnes the new additions are seen as being required to attend the ever-increasing size of ships using the canal.

The new tugs, to be named Arcangel San Rafael and Arcangel San Gabriel will be customised with aft winches and a fifi1 capability and are due to be delivered mid-2017.

Meyer’s Group are established customers for Damen Shipyards’ tugs with two ASD 2810 tugs Virgen del Valle and Meyers Evo deployed in Colon servicing the oil terminal at Las Minas and the Colon Container Terminal. Another Damen tug, the ASD 3212 Arcangel San Miguel operates in Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. Prior to this, Meyer’s Group had also chartered Damen vessels.

Micheal Mittelmeyer, chief executive officer of Meyer’s Group commented that they respect the quality of Damen’s vessel construction coupled with ‘very good service support’. Speaking about the specifics of the order Mr Mittelmeyer said: ‘The company really wants to maintain a very new fleet in Panama,’ adding, ‘with the Panama Canal expansion there has been a substantial pick-up in activity. And even though there may be fewer feeder vessels, these are being replaced with the mega containerships and tankers, hence the need for stronger, versatile tugs.’

Pieter Becker, Damen sales manager Latin America said: ‘The Meyer’s Group is a very loyal customer and it is a good sign that they have come back to us again. Damen very much enjoys partnering the Meyer’s Group and supporting them in their success. It is also nice that Damen tugs now have a significant presence at the Panama Canal.’

By Peter Barker