Damen contracted to build two support tugs

The 67m tugs, which will have a bollard pull of 120 tonnes and 250m² of deck space, are destined for the Gulf of Mexico for Woodside Energy under a 15-year tender for multi-purpose offshore support vessels.

They will be built at the Damen shipyard in the United Arab Emirates.

Damen says the vessels have been designed for exceptional sea-keeping and DP2 performance in severe offshore conditions, and will be capable of safely handling mooring lines and cargo hoses, hose maintenance, tanker assistance, ROV deployment and other services.

“With a 100% Mexican crew onboard these vessels, we look forward to seeing our new Damen OST 120 vessels in operation, making a positive impact to the Mexican maritime industry,” said Fausto Correa, General Manager of Chomex Marino. 

Calling the tugs ‘a new class in offshore support’, designers have focused on versatility and operational efficiency, said Damen Area Manager North America Marnix Brouwer. “We foresee increasing demand for offshore tugs with a wider set of capabilities and are grateful to both Woodside and Chomex Marino for the opportunity to deliver a new solution to the industry,” he said.