Damen unveils next generation of ship-handling tugs

The twin fin skeg RSD Tug 2513, with 70 tonnes of bollard pull in both push and pull modes but always bow first, will redefine agility in harbour towage, the company said.
Then there was the new series of azimuth stern drive ASD Tugs 2312 and 2813, designed for ship handling operations but capable of undertaking other tasks including salvage and coastal towing. The tugs have bollard pulls of 60 tonnes and 80 tonnes, respectively, again in push and pull modes.   
To round off the new generation, Damen unveiled upgraded versions of the ASD Tug 2810 which now, slightly wider, becomes the ASD Tug 2811, and the ASD Tug 3212, first introduced at ITS in 2012. Damen explained that these proven designs have been further optimised and prepared for the next decade, with solid performance for harbour, coastal and exposed terminal operations. Again, the vessels have 60 tonnes and 80 tonnes of bollard pull, respectively, in both push and pull modes.
All of the tugs incorporate three key features embodied in a slogan – safety, green and connected. The next generation of vessels comply with new stability regulations set out in the Harmonised Class rules and to be introduced by the IMO in January 2020. With the launch of Damen’s new modular Marine NOx Reduction System, the vessels can all comply with IMO Tier III regulations, either from the start or during construction, or as a retrofit. Connectivity through the new Damen Digital Platform will assist in operational planning and maintenance, raising the efficiency of tug operations in the future, the company claimed.