Svitzer orders two more Damen ASD tugs

JUNE 29, 2015 — Towage and emergency response specialist Svitzer has ordered two more Damen ASD 3212 tugs with 80 tonnes bollard pull performance.

They are being built at Damen’s Song Cam shipyard in Vietnam and will be delivered to Svitzer UK in October 2015 for its escort and towing operations on the Thames and Felixstowe..

The 32 m x 12.2 m ASD tugs are designed for push-pull, escorting, towing and fire-fighting operations. They have a speed of 14 knots and each isequipped with two Caterpillar 3516C HD TA/D engines with a total power of 5,050 bkW at 1,800 rpm.

Svitzer specializes in escorting large vessels − tankers, cruise ships, bulk containers and containerships.

Damen Sales Manager Martijn Smit says the ASD tugboats are extremely suitable for handling large vessels.

“Being able to change pitch and power during operation allows smooth and superior maneuverability of these big vessels,” he says.

The tugs have 2,800 mm controllable-pitch propellers in combination with special render recovery winches with a 200 tonne break, render 100 tonnes at 100m/min and 60 tonnes at 50m/min at second layer, while normal mode pull is 60 tonnes at 20m/min.

“Damen is happy to be able to provide Svitzer with the standardised fit-for-purpose tugboats and fast turnaround they are looking for. Over the past couple of years, Svitzer UK has increased its Damen tugboat orders. We have a long history of fruitful collaboration,” says Mr. Smit.

Svitzer UK ordered its first ASD 3212 tug in 2014; a model outfitted with a fixed-pitch propeller in combination with a forward winch. Svitzer UK’s tug fleet now totals 21 Damen tugs including the three ASD 3212 vessels.