Italian owner orders escort tug to enhance terminal services

Sanmar Shipyards has built this 32-m high-power tugboat as one of its Kocaçay series at its shipyard in Turkey to Robert Allan Ltd’s RAstar 3200SX design.

Under the name of Kocaçay IX, this vessel was launched in March and is scheduled to be delivered to Rimorchiatori Laziali in May 2024.

It is the sister tug to Blasco, which was delivered to the owner in 2023, and has a moulded beam of 13 m, a moulded depth of 5 m, a maximum draught of 6 m and a towing capacity of 83 tonnes.

Its hull was designed to improve towing and seakeeping performance, as indicated by model and full-scale tests.

“These are technologically advanced, heavy-duty tugboats that can take the most harsh conditions in their stride,” said Sanmar Shipyards commercial director Rüçhan Civgin.

Rimorchiatori Laziali is part of the Cafimar group and holds the towing concession for the port of Civitavecchia, outside Rome, where it also supplies bunker ships and barges. The company is also active in deepsea and coastal towage, transporting materials and industrial products for maritime construction work.