Sanmar reflects on a busy 2020

The whole industry has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic but 2020 was still a record year for Sanmar who delivered 30 tugs, 13 of which were for overseas clients, including 10 for Turkish operators, seven of which joined Sanmar’s own fleet. Overseas customers for the vessels, all Robert Allan Ltd designs were from: Canada, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Oman, Panama, Seychelles, UAE and UK.

Total bollard pull of tugs delivered was just under 1,700t, each vessel within the range 30t to 85t and 18m to 32m length and based on: RAscal 1800; RAmparts 2200SX and 2400SX; TRAktor 2500SX; RAstar 2800E, 2900SX and 3200SX and finally twin-screw conventional RApport 1900SX designs.

Separately, Sanmar has announced that the ‘ground-breaking historic free trade deal’ between Turkey and the UK provides ‘vital certainty for businesses and protects thousands of jobs in both countries and is excellent news.’ The trade deal came into force on 1 January and secures existing preferential tariffs between Turkey and the UK following the latter’s exit from the EU, also laying the groundwork for a more ambitious UK-Turkey free trade relationship in the near future.

Sanmar has delivered a total of 24 tugs to UK operators, three of which were in 2020 including the two powerful 80tbp RAstar 3200SX terminal tugs Odin of Scapa and Thor of Scapa for Orkney Islands Council and the 70tbp Bogacay class tug Queensferry, at the time for Targe Towing (recently acquired by Forth Ports Authority) to operate for INEOS at Hound Point on the Firth of Forth.

The trade agreement was signed by UK International Trade Secretary Liz Truss and Turkey’s Minister for Trade Ruhsar Pekcan during a video call late last year with Sanmar’s commercial director Ruchan Civgin commenting: “This is excellent news. We are delighted that this deal has been done and are excited at the possibilities that the prospect of even closer ties between our two countries will provide. The signing of this agreement means we can continue to build on the excellent business relationships that we have with our friends in the UK. It enables us to focus on nurturing long-term partnerships with existing clients, while also offering attractive cost-effective terms to potential new customers.”

By Peter Barker