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Damen unveils compact ASD tug design
Damen Shipyards has started building the first of its new compact azimuth stern drive (ASD) tugboats in China, ready to provide these harbour vessels from Q3 2023
The Dutch group has introduced the ASD tug 2111 design for ship handling in harbours where there is little space and 50 tonnes of bollard pull is required. These 21-m tugs have a high freeboard, which keeps water on deck to an absolute minimum, and a full-vision bridge providing a 360° view from the deckhouse over the surrounding waters and fore and aft decks.
The hull design and fendering allows the tug to get close to an assisted vessel due to its hull design and fendering, and clutter-free decks prevent trip hazards.
Damen product portfolio manager Siebe Cieraad explained the thinking behind this next series of tugs. “As seagoing ships continue to increase in size, new challenges are arising in ports,” he said. “Tugs are required to operate safely with less space, at the same time needing increased power to perform.”
A crucial safety factor on ASD 2111 is the location of the winch in the deckhouse, enabling fore and aft towing operations using a single winch which is sheltered from the elements, thereby reducing maintenance.
“In line with our construction of tugs in series for stock, we are already building six ASD tugs 2111 at Damen Shipyards Changde,” said Mr Cieraad.
“As of Q3 2023, we will be able to offer operators fast access to the latest in tug technology with all the increases in safety, sustainability, reliability and efficiency this implies.”
ASD 2111 tugs feature Damen’s closed-loop keel cooling system, reducing the amount of onboard seawater systems and lowering the amount of erosion-related maintenance.
Damen has incorporated a new electric power generation system to its compact tugs range, which also includes the ASD 2312 tug design. This system generates electricity by drawing on the ample available power of the main engines instead of from a separate generator set, reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
A further boost to fuel efficiency comes from the ASD 2111 tug’s 2.4-m diameter azimuth nozzle propeller, the large size offering increased thrust.
This tug design also features the patented Damen Twin Fin to ensure outstanding course keeping and predictable sailing behaviour during both free sailing and bow-to-bow operations.
ASD 2111 tugs are technically suitable for two-man operations and can be fitted with sensors and Damen’s Triton remote monitoring system. They will be fitted with two diesel engines compliant with IMO Tier II but can be upgraded with exhaust silencers and a Damen emissions reduction system for IMO Tier III compliance which includes a urea tank and exhaust gas aftertreatment unit for reducing NOx emissions. The engineroom is ready for retrofitting with these components at a later stage in the lifetime of the vessel.
Additionally, Damen is working on full electric versions of its compact ASD tugs. These vessels will follow in the footsteps of the successful RSD-E 2513 tug, Damen’s first fully electric zero-emissions tugboat, Sparky, which started operations in Auckland, New Zealand in 2022.
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