On 31 July 2013, ARC Towage singed four contracts at the Netherlands shipbuilder Damen Shipyards Group. The new building contracts with ARC Towage are the result of a special joint venture set-up for the terminal berthing services for a significant energy industry player in Trinidad and Tobago, the shipbuilder said in a press release.
The first DAMEN ASD 2810 left for Trinidad, while the second vessel will leave in two weeks. The last two tugs will arrive mid-December this year. The tugs are being built at Damen Shipyards Galati, Romania, and will be delivered by Damen Services in Trinidad and Tobago before 1 January 2015. The vessels will provide towage services for escorting, berthing and un-berthing LNG-vessels.
The ASD Tugs 2810 have a minimal bollard pull of 60 tons and a maximum speed of 12.9 knots. For operation in and around the LNG terminal, the vessels are equipped with rig savers on all engines which are remote shut off valves, remote-closing air intakes, gas detection systems and exterior explosion-proof lighting.
Damen Shipyards Group operates 32 ship- and repair yards, employing 8,000 people worldwide. Damen has delivered more than 5,000 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers approximately 180 vessels annually to customers worldwide. Damen specializes in the construction of a wide range of products, including: tugs, workboats, naval and patrol vessels, high-speed craft, cargo vessels, dredgers, vessels for the offshore industry, ferries, pontoons and super yachts. Besides, Damen offers a variety of marine components, especially nozzles, (flap-type) rudders, steering gear, anchors, anchor chains and steel works.
In addition to ship design and shipbuilding, Damen Shiprepair & Conversion offers a network of 16 repair and conversion yards worldwide, with dry docks ranging up to 420 x 80 metres. Conversion projects range from adapting vessels to meet today’s requirements and regulations to the complete conversion of large offshore structures. DS&C handles 1,500 repair and maintenance jobs annually.