Damen signs contract with Baleària for Eco-efficient tug in Port of Ciutadella

Damen Shipyards Group has signed a contract with Spain-based major ferry operator Baleària for the delivery of a Stan Tug 1606 E3. The contract was signed by Mr. Ettore Morace and Mr. Guillermo Alomar, executive director of operations and fleet director of Baleària respectively and Carlos Gonzalez Martin on behalf of Damen. The vessel is an answer to increasing demands for sustainability in the maritime industry. It will be the first IMO Tier III compliant tug to operate in the Mediterranean Sea and the first Damen vessel to serve in Baleària’s fleet.

Baleària has acquired the tug to reinforce the operation of its vessels in the harbour of Ciutadella – Menorca. The tug, which arrived on June 26th, is named Rolon Plata II, after Rolon Plata; the name of the first ferry operated in the Port of Ciutadella by Flebasa – the precursor to Baleària – in 1993.

Baleària required a compact, powerful tug to give towage assistance and one that should be ready to take up its role in the quickest possible timeframe. Thanks to Damen’s philosophy of standardised shipbuilding in series, the tug was on stock ready for delivery just four weeks following order. Damen has delivered more than 80 Stan Tug 1606 vessels to clients during the last 15 years. Despite its standard design Damen has tailored the vessel to Baleària’s requirements

This includes outfitting the vessel with FiFi capabilities, oil recovery kit and inclusion of a NOX Reduction System, an advanced active emissions control system using SCR technology for NOX reductions of approx. 70% compared to a conventional vessel and aligned with IMO Tier III. With the additional noise reduction associated with the system, this is an important feature for a vessel that will operate in Menorca – a biosphere reserve. The system is easy to fit at any stage of the shipbuilding process, or as a retrofit. It is available for inclusion on all vessels in Damen’s next generation of tugs. It is notable in its compactness, enabling emissions compliance even in a relatively small tug.  Application of the system onboard the proven Damen Stan Tug 1606 gives the vessel Damen’s E3 accreditation, being environmentally friendly, efficient in operation and economically viable.

Baleària, a leading ferry operator serving routes in Spain, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands and North Africa, has committed itself to increased sustainability in its operations, in accordance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. For the company this has involved constructing new RoPax vessels using dual-fuel LNG propulsion, as well as the conversion of existing vessels.

“This next-generation tug will be able to meet the needs of all operators, as well as being available for salvage and rescue in the area," said Baleària's General Director of Operations, Ettore Morace.

Damen Sales Manager Carlos Gonzalez Martin said, “We as Damen, are very proud to play a role in supporting Baleària in bringing this proven Damen vessel – environmentally friendly and fitted with efficient technology – to the beautiful and ecologically important Balearic Islands. The cooperation between our two companies has been excellent, very smooth and efficient, enabling us to comfortably deliver her on schedule. This is in no small part due to our shared commitment to the further development of a sustainable maritime industry.”



Damen Shipyards Group
Damen Shipyards Group operates 36 shipbuilding and repair yards, employing 12,000 people worldwide. Damen has delivered more than 6,500 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers around 175 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, winches, anchors, anchor chains and steel works.

Damen Shiprepair & Conversion (DSC) has a worldwide network of eighteen repair and conversion yards of which twelve are located in North West Europe. Facilities at the yards include more than 50 floating (and covered) drydocks, including the longest, 420 x 80 metres, and the widest, 405 x 90 metres, as well as slopes, ship lifts and indoor halls. Projects range from the smallest simple repairs through Class’ maintenance to complex refits and the complete conversion of large offshore structures. DSC completes around 1,300 repair and maintenance jobs annually, both at yards as well as in ports and during voyage.


Baleària
Baleària is a leading shipping company in the transport of passengers and cargo in connections with the Balearic Islands, and also connects Ceuta, Melilla and the Canary Islands with the Iberian peninsula. In the international field, it offers services in Morocco, Algeria and the Caribbean (between the United States and the Bahamas).

The shipping company is a global pioneer in the use of natural gas: by 2020, nine ships in its fleet will sail with this fuel, which reduces polluting emissions. Among new constructions and refits, the company’s investment reaches 362 million euros in a fleet of smart ships that combine eco-efficiency and digitalisation. In addition, the company is working on opening new international traffic, both in North Africa and the Caribbean.

In 2018, Baleària transported more than 4,300,000 passengers and 5,800,000 linear metres of cargo. In addition, its fleet of 31 vessels sailed almost 1.4 million miles. The company employs more than 1,600 employees.