Damen tugs set to be built in Turkey

Istanbul-based Arena Offshore will build two tugboats in Turkey to a Damen Shipyards Stan Tug 1606 design under the Damen Technical Co-operation (DTC) after the two companies agreed to the arrangement.

This is Damen’s first design collaboration with an external company in Turkey.

These 17-m tugs were designed for towing, mooring, pushing and survey operations and come with a beam of 6 m and 16 tonnes of bollard pull. They will be available for sale on the commercial market.

“The good experience and collaboration we have had with Arena Offshore has led them to construct their own newbuild Damen designs,” confirmed DTC managing director Bram Kouters. “DTC is gaining traction in Turkey. By sharing designs, knowledge and technology in this way, we can contribute to the construction of higher quality, sustainable vessels all around the world, giving a boost to local maritime suppliers and widening employment opportunities.”

Since being established in 1998, Arena Offshore has specialised in vessel brokerage, chartering and shipbuilding, having built more than 50 vessels.

“Damen has chosen and trusted an external company to build two Stan Tugs 1606, which is one of its most well-known models,” said Arena Offshore owner Ömer Ince.

Stan Tug 1606 has twin-screw propulsion, a crane, capstan, winches and bollards, accommodation for four crew, a maximum draught of just over 2 m, a top speed of 11 knots and storage for 14 m³ of fuel.

Turkey is one of the world’s biggest tugbuilding nations, where many vessel owners construct fleets of tugboats at several shipyards.