Fratelli Neri expands Italian tugboat fleet

It held a naming ceremony for three reserve stern drive (RSD) tugs designed and built by Damen Shipyards in Livorno, Italy on 15 May. All three tugs were built to Damen’s RSD 2513 design in the past three years.

Two of these harbour tugboats, Romito and Calafuria, were built at Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania with 70 tonnes of bollard pull. They were delivered to Fratelli Neri at the end of 2019.

The third named tug, Gabriella Neri, was built at Damen Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam and delivered in January 2021. This is the most powerful of the three, with 80 tonnes of bollard pull.

All three of these escort tugs are equipped with FiFi1 class fire-fighting systems, oil recovery and salvage equipment. They are fully compliant with Italian flag regulations.

“We are delighted to have taken delivery of Romito, Calafuria and Gabriella Neri from Damen Shipyards,” Fratelli Neri managing director Corrado Neri said during the naming ceremony.

“The new tugs’ versatility, high power and low emissions make them an ideal addition to our existing fleet, allowing us to continue to provide the highest standard of service to our customers with safety excellence.”

Damen area manager Antonio Marte said “These three tugs confirm the long-term vision and innovative will of the Neri family.”

He explained the tugs combine characteristics of both tractor and azimuth stern drive tugs, meaning they are equally effective at both bow and stern towage operations.

They have the twin-fin hull concept to provide maximum directional stability and higher towing forces.

Romito and Calafuria were supplied ready to be upgraded to comply with IMO Tier III emissions requirements. Gabriella Neri is also IMO Tier III-ready and has the Damen Triton remote monitoring system to monitor tug performance in real time.