Boluda France has taken delivery of the last two of a six-tug newbuilding campaign to renew and expand its fleet in French ports
Piriou group designed and built these multipurpose tugs to Boluda’s specific requirements for power and manoeuvrability to handle the largest container ships.
VB Longchamp and VB Guardian arrived in Le Havre, northern France, on 24 April, after their construction at Piriou’s facilities in Vietnam.
Built to Omni Stern Tug 30 design, they have an overall length of 30.3 m and bollard pulls of around 75 tonnes to handle ultra-large container ships in the Port of Le Havre.
There were challenges in taking delivery of these tugs due to restrictions imposed to counter the coronavirus pandemic.
Boluda France chief executive Denis Monserand highlighted the efficiency and commitment of Piriou, Port of Le Havre and the contractors “who allowed the delivery of these last two vessels in due time in spite of the current health crisis”.
Port of le Havre chief executive Baptiste Maurand said these tugs would modernise the fleet in the harbour.
VB Longchamp and VB Guardian were transported on board Spliethoff’s heavy lift ship Pauwgracht to Le Havre. Their delivery brings Boluda France’s latest newbuilding project to an end. It took delivery of four similar tugs in 2019.
VB Concorde and VB Mirage entered service in Nantes-Saint Nazaire on the Atlantic coast in August 2019 with VB Acheron and VB Surprise arriving in Marseille-Fos ports on the Mediterranean in November 2019.
Piriou has history of building harbour tugs for Boluda France. It built six tugs between 2015 and 2017 and eight tugs for Boluda France in between 2007 and 2009.
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