Belgium owner orders tug to expand port services fleet

Neptune Marine has started building a multipurpose tugboat to its own EuroTractorTug 2410 design, with delivery expected mid-2021.

Verbeke Shipping requires this tractor tug, to be named Condor, to strengthen its growing fleet that includes four multipurpose vessels and one flat top barge.

Neptune Marine developed this multipurpose tug based on its EuroTug design in close collaboration with the operator and to meet Belgian flag state requirements. It will be propelled with a pair of main diesel engines complying with IMO Tier III emissions requirements, driving two Voith propellers.

Verbeke Shipping required custom deck machinery to match Condor’s multiple port activities. It will be outfitted with a compact deck crane, anchor handling winch, an A-frame and a dredging plough.

“Being a small family business our goal is always to invest in the future,” said Verbeke Shipping. “We thought about many possibilities to continue our journey in shipping. Along the way we contacted Neptune Marine to speak about our ideas. In less than six months we agreed to build this unique Eurotug with Voith propellers.”

This EuroTractorTug is being built at the shipyard in Aalst, the Netherlands. Once completed it will be mobilised to Antwerp, Belgium, ready to begin port operations.

Neptune Marine’s orderbook is filling up with new orders. It has started to build the world’s first large sailing cargo vessel, Canopée, for French shipping company Jifmar Offshore Services. This vessel will be equipped with four 30-m high Oceanwings. These sail panels, with an area of 375 m² each, will positively affect fuel consumption of the diesel direct mechanical propulsion systems. The controllable pitch propellors can be put in feather mode when Oceanwing wind system delivers enough power for the vessel under speed, resulting in a shutdown of both or one of the two Wärtsilä main engines.

Construction on the hull started in December 2020 and Neptune intends to outfit the ship at its facilities in Hardinxveld, the Netherlands, for completion at the end of 2022.

Neptune Marine has also launched a custom-design (EuroCablePontoon), cable transportation barge for Danish power cable solution provider NKT. This shallow draft pontoon was built at Neptune’s shipyard in Hardinxveld and includes a cable carousel to transport power cables from NKT facilities in Germany to Dutch sea ports.

Port and towage requirements will be discussed in depth during Riviera’s series of virtual conferences and webinars during 2021 - use this link to access more details and register for these events