Italian operator orders Damen ASD 2810 for Ancona

JANUARY 27, 2015 — CORIMA, the Ancona unit of Italy’s Gesmar Group, has ordered a 60 t bollard pull ASD 2810 tug from Damen Shipyards Group.

The FiFi 1 tug will be Italian flagged and will be deployed in the port of Ancona, replacing a twin-screw tug.

CORIMA serves two offshore oil terminals (owned by API Refinery) and wanted a tug with good seakeeping behavior to be able to operate in open sea.

“We already have a Damen ASD Tug 3110 and have always thought Damen is a very good, high quality shipbuilder,” said CORIMA President and Gesmar Group Managing Director Riccardo Vitiello. “We were looking for a harbor tug but also one that is suitable for offshore terminal towage.”

Mr. Vitiello added that the company was keen on getting an ASD Tug as it believes the ideal towing configuration is having an ASD bow first, at the stern of a vessel, and then a tractor tug at the bow.

Quick delivery times also attracted CORIMA to Damen. The vessel is due to be delivered before the end of the year.

“We know that Damen will completely respect the delivery time,” said Mr. Vitiello. Noting that pricing was also a factor, he added: “Damen is one of the best yards in the world for tugs and certainly when considering the lifetime of a vessel prices are competitive.” 
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We are truly delighted to be working with such a renowned and respected Italian shipowner again after 13 years,” said Andrea Trevisan, Damen Regional Sales Manager. “The Gesmar Group is one of the largest Italian tug owners. At the company’s head office in Ravenna several awards for Operational Excellence are displayed, demonstrating the Group’s commitment to quality.”

“The Damen ASD Tug 2810 is proven in the industry,” said Mr. Trevisan. “More than 170 of these compact, powerful tugs are working in ports worldwide. They are known by their captains for their quick acceleration and maneuverability. We are sure that CORIMA will be very satisfied with the tug’s performance in the port of Ancona.”