Saam Smit Towage orders Damen ASD 2411 tug

Saam Smit Towage has ordered a new ASD (Azimuth Stern Drive) 2411 tug from DAMEN Shipyards, for operations in the port of Colón, Panama. Built for stock at DAMEN Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam, it was subsequently transported to the Netherlands for finishing. With the agreement in place the new vessel, named the SST Portobelo, is now underway to join the 11-strong Saam Smit tug fleet in Panama.

The SST Portobelo is the first ASD 2411 for Saam Smit in Panama. In October 2015, the company placed an order for an ASD Tug 2913, named the SST Rambala, which was delivered in May 2016. With 80 tonnes of bollard pull, she is ideal for assisting vessels through the expanded Panama Canal. The new ASD 2411 is smaller, but still has 70 tonnes of bollard pull and is exceptionally manoeuvrable. Recently Saam Smit ordered two ASD 2411 tugs for their operations in Brazil.

As part of the contract, Saam Smit Panama will be trading in an older tug from their fleet in part exchange for the new vessel. The DAMEN Group offers this service through its subsidiary DAMEN Trading, which provides both chartering and brokerage services. The second-hand vessel will be refurbished and offered for sale worldwide.

Damen Sales Manager Magiel Venema states: “We are proud that Saam Smit came back to us for another new vessel and we are confident that the SST Portobelo will prove to be a reliable vessel, ideal for conditions in Panama. Damen’s excellent after-sales service will be available to keep her performing at her best, supported by the new DAMEN Shipyards Curaçao just a short distance away.”

The former Curaçao Drydock Company was taken over by DAMEN Shiprepair & Conversion on the 2nd of February 2017 and provides a full range of services from facilities that include two large drydocks as well as 2,000 metres of repair quays outfitted with 13 cranes.

Saam Smit’s general manager in Panama, Walter van der Dussen, commented: “The speed of delivery of the SST Portobelo was a significant factor in awarding the contact to Damen. Having a second, similar vessel alongside our existing DAMEN tug also adds a certain standardisation that helps us sustain the quality of our service delivery to our customers. Lastly, replacing a 55 with a 70 tonnes bollard pull tug fits in well with the Saam Smit Towage Panama strategy of serving its customers with the right tugs, especially in view of the trend of larger vessels sailing into the Panama terminals.”




Damen Shipyards Group
Damen Shipyards Group operates 33 shipbuilding and repair yards, employing 9,000 people worldwide. DAMEN has delivered more than 6,000 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers some 180 vessels annually to customers worldwide. Based on its unique, standardised ship-design concept DAMEN is able to guarantee consistent quality.

Damen’s focus on standardisation, modular construction and keeping vessels in stock leads to short delivery times, low ‘total cost of ownership’, high resale values and reliable performance. Furthermore, DAMEN vessels are based on thorough R&D and proven technology.

Damen offers 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 superyachts.

For nearly all vessel types DAMEN offers a broad range of services, including maintenance, spare parts delivery, training and the transfer of (shipbuilding) know-how. DAMEN also offers a variety of marine components, such as nozzles, rudders, anchors, anchor chains and steel works.

In addition to ship design and shipbuilding, DAMEN Shiprepair & Conversion has a worldwide network of 17 repair and conversion yards with dry docks ranging up to 420 x 80 metres. Conversion projects range from adapting vessels to today’s requirements and regulations to the complete conversion of large offshore structures. DSC completes around 1,350 repair and maintenance jobs annually.