Global towage operator Svitzer has signed a contract with the Damen Shipyards Group for four ATD 2412 tugs as part of Svitzer’s ongoing fleet renewal programme.
All four tugs are being built at Damen Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam. Damen is handing over the first two vessels just one month after contract signing as it already has them built on stock.
Svitzer has the first two tugs signed up for port towage operations at its Dominican Republic joint venture with Remolcadores Dominicanos. Damen will deliver these vessels, to be called Svitzer Maimon and Svitzer Beata, in mid-April 2016. The second two tugs are due for completion in August 2016.
All four vessels are of Damen’s 24-metre Azimuth Tractor Drive (ATD) design. This heavy duty tug yields a tonne bollard pull of over 65 tonnes – the power originating from twin Caterpillar 3516C main engines and can reach a top speed of 12 knots.
Damen has built a significant part of Svitzer’s fleet and the two parties are also involved in developing new innovations together, including the first ever Reverse Stern Drive Compressed Natural Gas tug, in cooperation with MTU Friedrichshafen.