First tug in new Damen ASD class goes to work in Hamburg

FEBRUARY 12, 2015 — German towage specialist Petersen & Alpers has taken delivery of the first vessel in a new class of Damen Shipyards Group ASD tugs.

The new ASD Tug 2913 class has been developed in response to demand from operators for more powerful tugs capable of handling today’s ever larger vessels.

As well as having a bollard pull of 80 tonnes and total power of 5,050 bkW, the new tug is just 29 m in length and highly maneuverable, making it ideal for operations in busy harbors where space is limited.

It is also the first Damen tug to be built with a double hull so as to comply with the latest safety regulations.

The ASD 2913 has accommodations for 10 people in six cabins and with a beam of 13 m is very stable. It also has push/pull capabilities and can be fitted with an aft winch as an option.

The Michel, the ASD 2913 just delivered to Petersen & Alpers, will join an existing Damen ASD Tug 2411 that the company has been operating for the last four years out of Hamburg.

The Michel will also be working in and around Hamburg, with its series of small basins and narrow waterways. Though its compact size, power and maneuverability make the Michel ideal for this environment, the 2913 also has very good seakeeping qualities, allowing her to undertake offshore operations when required.

“We are very happy to be working once again with Damen,” said Peter Lindenau, Managing Director of Petersen & Alpers. “We had built up trust on our last project, and the whole package worked well for us. It is not just price but also performance, service and maintenance.”

As the launch customer for the ASD Tug 2913, with over 200 years’ experience in shipping, Petersen & Alpers contributed a good deal of valuable input into the design by, for example specifying details such as an oil fired heating system.