Port fleet of Baltic Sea Tug Agency (Ust-Luga port) expanded with two new tugboats (photo)

Baltic Sea Tug Agency (BSTA LLC, commercial sea port of Ust-Luga) has put into operation two new tugboats, Kizhuch and Chernaya Barabulka, today, 26 April 2017, reports correspondent of IAA PortNews.

The two 5,000 - h.p. ships are built by DAMEN Shipyards Group. The first sea trials and testing of technical characteristics have been successfully held in the Netherlands. 

Characteristics of the ships: length – 29.84 m, breadth – 10.43 m, power – 2Х 2600 h.p, full speed - 12 knots. The ships fitted with firefighting equipment are intended for escorting of tankers and gas carriers. Class notation of Russian Maritime Register of Shipping: KM(*) Arc4 R1 AUT1 FF3WS escort tug.

“As of today, they are the most advanced tugboats operating in Russian ports, - explained Konstantin Protsko, Deputy Director General for Fleet at BSTA. – They are ice-class azimuth tugboats with increased maneuverability ensuring high safety of escort and mooring operations.”

The development of commercial sea port of Ust-Luga means more calls and requires expansion of port services. To meet the demand for tugboats’ services, the port’s largest towing-and-tugboat company, Baltic Sea Tug Agency, has expanded its port fleet to 8 units.

“Our main task is to ensure incident-free mooring and towing of ocean-going ships. That is needed for smooth operation of the port, building up of its throughput, - said BSTA Director General Konstantin Goncharov. – That is why we decided in favour of Dаmen tugs, as the most reliable ships of port fleet.”

Victor Tolkachev, Chairman of the Committee for Economics and Investment Policy of the Kingisepp District Administration, emphasized the significance of the event for Ust-Luga port and the region as a whole.

Baltic Sea Tug Agency offers round-the-year services on deep-sea and port-to-port towing, rescue operations, delivery of pilots to/from vessels, support of diving operations and underwater engineering works. In summer period, the company’s fleet can be involved in hydrographic activities, comprehensive servicing of dredgers including security services. In winter, BSTA ships can be deployed for ice cutting along the berths and for ice escorts. BSTA fleets consists of ice-class azimuth tugboats of 3,500 to 5,200 h.p. as well as small tugs and engineering ships to support underwater and hydraulic engineering, dredging and hydrographical operations. BSTA operates at key ports in the Gulf of Finland with its base at the commercial sea port of Ust-Luga.

Damen Shipyards Group (with its Head Office in Gorinchem, the Netherlands) operates 40 ship- and repair yards employing 9,000 people worldwide.  Damen has delivered more than 6,000 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers approximately 160 vessels annually to customers worldwide.  Damen specializes in construction of tugs, boats, patrol vessels, high-speed craft, cargo ships, dredgers, platform service vessels, oil spill response ships, frigates and super yachts.