RNLN takes delivery of first Damen hybrid tug

Noordsee is first of three Damen ASD 2810 hybrid tugs ordered by Royal Netherlands Navy

FEBRUARY 22, 2016 — The Royal Netherlands Navy brought the 29 m hybrid tug Noordsee into Den Helder this past Saturday. The Damen ASD tug 2810 is the first in a series of three and is the first standard hybrid tug supplied by Damen that the RNLN will employ.

The RNLN currently has four conventional tugs at its disposal in Den Helder. However, these older vessels do not have sufficient power to handle new ships such as the HNLMS Karel Doorman, HNLMS Rotterdam and the HNLMS Johan de Witt. The older tugs also still make use of normal propellers with rudders with a restricted maneuverability and no longer fit the vision of sustainability that the RNLN has for the future.

The state-of-the-art ASD tug 2810 Hybrid has two rudder propeller units for optimum maneuverability and can sail on full electric power, either on batteries or in diesel-electric mode. When full towing power is required, both main diesel engines are used, giving a maximum bollard pull of 60 tonnes.

The RNLN was explicitly looking for a standard tug that was both very environmentally friendly and powerful enough for heavy operations and contracted Damen for the project since hybrids and sustainability are standard design concepts for the shipbuilder.

The three RNLN tugs are part of a five vessel order placed in cooperation with the Swedish Navy, which is to receive two tugs that are also of a standard design, but designed for operations in icy waters.

The Noordzee was sailed to Den Helder by the RNLN from Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania. The two other ships, the Waddenzee and the Zuiderzee will be delivered in mid-March and mid-June.