Sanmar delivers its hat trick of tugs to Boluda

The delivery of BOĞAÇAY LXVII, to be renamed VB TRAGEN by its new owner, follows the sale and delivery of two former Sanmar fleet tugs – VB HORUS and VB AMON – to Boluda Towage in November last year. 

“Boluda Towage is a major player in our industry and we are delighted to have them as a new customer. Developing new business relationships, in which we work closely together to explore how we can match the client’s specific operational needs is always a pleasure,” said Ruchan Civgin, commercial director of Sanmar Shipyards.

LNG support

Constructed at Sanmar’s purpose-built shipyards in Turkiye, VB TRAGEN has been delivered to support Boluda Towage’s services for LNG operations in Germany.

The vessel, which was built in 2022 and also previously worked in the Sanmar fleet, is based on the exclusive-to-Sanmar RAmparts 2400-SX design from Canada-based naval architects Robert Allan Ltd, and is specifically designed for optimal efficiency in ship-handling duties for sea-going ships.

Measuring 24.4m LOA excluding fenders, with a moulded breadth of 11.25m, moulded depth of 4.38m and maximum operating draft of approximately 5.25m, the twin Z-drive VB TRAGEN can achieve a bollard pull of at least 80 tonnes and a free running speed of 12.5 knots.

With accommodation for a crew of up to six, the tug’s tank capacities include 74,200 ltrs of fuel oil and 10,800 ltrs of fresh water. Its main fire-fighting pump is driven by a clutched flexible coupling in front of the port side main engine and provides approximately 2700m3/hour to tackle blazes. The tug has Fi-Fi 1 notation.

Boluda Towage is a family-owned company providing towage services in the main ports of the world. 

It spent most of 2023 expanding its reach globally and connecting up its towage services, most recently in Gibraltar and Egypt.