Globetrotting Damen tug moves to Jersey

This interesting and otherwise unremarkable story sees the Damen Stan Tug 1606 Devout completing its latest, relatively short move from working on the River Thames to the Channel Islands to be based in Jersey and used mainly for local towage and port-related maintenance duties.

Ports of Jersey, which is in the throes of wide-ranging harbour redevelopment, describes the vessel as a ‘small multi-purpose tug designed for the kind of work required around Jersey’s harbours… its robust design and adaptability making it an invaluable asset, capable of handling diverse tasks with ease.’

Over the next few months Devout will undergo a makeover as it transitions into its new role, carrying out maintenance and training to ensure it is fully operational for its new duties.

Once in service the vessel’s primary role will be to support vessels accessing St Helier harbour in inclement weather, its duties also including working with the port’s maintenance team on tasks including deploying seasonal buoyage along with ladder and quay repairs.

Devout has a length overall of 16m and is powered by Caterpillar main engines and a conventional twin screw arrangement. It has a bollard pull of 16 tonnes and deck equipment includes a crane which will be ‘reinstalled’ as part of its makeover.

Ports of Jersey stands out from other similar-sized port operators with its five-strong fleet of vessels operating far and wide as part of its commercial workboat fleet, a marine business that generated an income of £7.6 million (€9.1 million) in 2024, which is invested in the maintenance and development of Jersey’s marine infrastructure.

Established Dutch shipbuilders have provided these five vessels comprising the Damen Shoalbusters Duke of Normandy, Duchess and Elisa along with the Neptune Shipyards Eurocarrier workboats Viking Energy and Severn Supporter. Two 50m to 60m long flat-top barges are due to be added to the fleet in 2025.

Globetrotter

Devout’s history started with delivery from Damen Changde Shipyard in China in 2009. As PB Beadon, it worked in Australia for Pacific Basin Shipping (ship manager PB Towage Australia) and operated initially by Smit Lamnalco Towage Australia.

In 2015, PB Towage New Zealand took over as operator of the vessel and the following year it moved to the other side of the world with the name Devout for Thamescraft Dry Docking Services, based at Greenwich on the River Thames.

Thamescraft, one of London’s last remaining boatyards, has operated in Greenwich for more than 20 years and is responsible for carrying out around half of all the river’s annual maintenance work requiring MCA accreditation. It has a small fleet of workboats including the Damen Shoalbuster 2308 Valour (ex MTS Valour).

While indicative of the global reach of modern tug and workboat building activity, Devout demonstrates that it is not only large deep-sea tugs that can be found thousands of miles from their birthplace.