On 23 January 2009, ITC (International Transport Contractors) formally took delivery of its second new Damen Shoalbuster 2609 at a ceremony in central Amsterdam.
Mr Peter Baars, head of production for Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld, transferred ownership of the new vessel to ITC's managing director, Mr Joop Timmermans.The new ITC Meltemi was then named by Mrs Ragnhild Astrup Tschudi. Following the ceremony ITC held a reception and buffet attended by many of ITC's clients, colleagues and friends.
ITC Meltemi is the third Damen Shoalbuster to go into service with ITC and joins the 'Elizabeth' and 'ITC Mistral'. Better known for their deepsea and offshore operation, ITC decided to introduce this type of vessel as part of its strategy to strengthen its position in offshore and dredging support services by offering shallow draft, multi-functional vessels in addition to the large anchor handling vessels and ocean tugs. Combining the marketing of Shoalbusters increases the company's profile and flexibility in the specialised markets of wreck removal, land reclamation, port construction and offshore wind farm installation projects.
ITC Meltemi will be operated under the Dutch flag with a crew of 4 to 5 persons but there is comfortable accommodation onboard for up to for seven persons. On trials the tug achieved a bollard pull of 33.9 tons, the highest figure to date for a Shoalbuster 2609. The propulsion machinery is a standard installation of two Caterpillar diesels delivering 2,200bhp to a pair of fixed pitch propellers running in Optima nozzles. A 100bhp bow thruster increases manoeuvrability and the normal outfit of deck equipment includes a large remotely controlled deck crane with a maximum capacity of 140t/m and a maximum outreach of 18m. ITC Meltemi's shallow draft and deck equipment makes it an ideal vessel to support marine civil engineering, dredging and pipeline operations.
In keeping with ITC tradition this latest tug is named after a 'wind'. Meltemi is a Mediterranean wind described as 'The Bad Tempered One'. The ITC prefix is new and has been added to Mistral retrospectively.
