Boluda starts towage operations in Egypt

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Boluda Towage has deployed three powerful newbuild tugs to service vessels at Egypt’s Abu Qir’s Container Terminal.

Boluda says its presence in Egypt and the Middle East is a further step towards strengthening its global towage network and connecting its worldwide activities, the new container terminal seen as a strategic and important connection in maritime trade routes between Africa, Asia, the Indian Ocean and Europe.

Boluda's trio will serve a container terminal in Egypt (Boluda)

Source: Boluda

Boluda’s trio will serve a container terminal in Egypt

The contract began on 1 January 2024 and just nine days later the terminal’s first caller, the 4,389teu, container ship Zhong Gu Ji Lin, was welcomed, followed a few days later by the 1,562teu Mao Gang Shang Hai. Both Chinese-owned ships were assisted by Boluda’s tugs during their visit.

Illustrating how choice of modern tug designs today can be tailored to meet the requirements of individual ports and the size and type of ships therein, Boluda has chosen a mix of ASD and tractor configuration tugs, all built in Turkey.

'VB Amon' is an ASD configured tug built by Med Marine (Boluda)

Source: Boluda

VB Amon is an ASD configured tug built by Med Marine

VB Horus and VB Amon were built by Sanmar Shipyards to TRAktor-Z 2500 SX, Z drive designs from the pen of Canadian naval architect Robert Allan (RAL) and one of three tractor configured tugs in Sanmar’s catalogue, which includes the VectRA AVT 3000 design featuring Voith Schneider propulsion.

The TRAktor Z 2500 SX is known by Sanmar as the Deliçay class and Boluda’s pair for its Egypt operation were built as Deliçay VIII and X respectively. The 25m long vessels are powered by Caterpillar 2516C main engines developing 75tbp.

The third vessel, VB Ahmose, is a product of Turkey’s Med Marine and another RAL design, based on the RAmparts 2500-W ASD tug. The RAmparts series ranges from 22m to 36m in length and are particularly popular, described by RAL as “representing the most versatile, multi-purpose type of tug in use today.”

'VB Ahmose' is one of a pair or Sanmar-built tractor tugs for operation in Egypt (Boluda)

VB Ahmose is one of a pair or Sanmar-built tractor tugs for operation in Egypt

Source: Boluda

VB Ahmose is powered by Caterpillar 3516E main engines with a bollard pull of 75t. Similar to the Sanmar tractors, the trio offer a variety of key functions including towing, pushing, mooring, escort, firefighting operations and terminal support work.

“Abu Qir is a port in full motion, and the port developments perfectly fit with the ambitions of the Boluda Towage Division,” said Vicente Boluda Fos, president of Boluda Corporación Marítima. “The presence in Egypt and the Middle East is a further step towards strengthening and expanding our global activities.”