Kotug lands long-term GTA contract for escort tug fleet

Partners of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) offshore project off West Africa have selected Kotug International to provide marine services to the new floating oil and gas production and export terminal.

This energy development will produce gas from an ultra-deepwater subsea system connected to a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, which will process the gas and liquids, then pump the gas through a 35-km pipeline to a floating LNG production, storage and offloading facility, where it will be transferred to LNG carriers.

Kotug will work with Senegalese partner Maritalia to provide marine support for this project, which spans the maritime border between Senegal and Mauritania under a long fixed-term contract, using four 32-m escort azimuth stern drive (ASD) tugs, of Robert Allan Ltd’s RAstar design, with propulsion compliant to IMO Tier III emissions standards.

They will support FLNG and FPSO operations and LNG carriers at the offloading terminal, while Maritalia will fulfil local content requirements.

Kotug president and chief executive Ard-Jan Kooren emphasised the importance of investing in local vendors, companies and people in Mauritania and Senegal for this project.

“This collaboration underscores our commitment to fostering local talent and contributing to the sustainable development of the Mauritanian and Senegalese economies,” he said. “By investing in local knowledge and skills, we aim to create long-lasting value and ensure our operations benefit the communities we serve.”

Kotug intends to invest in a technical knowledge transfer plan, where selected local candidates will be recruited, educated, trained and progress through the ranks until all positions on board the vessels are held by local crew.

The GTA project involves oil major BP, independent explorer Kosmos Energy and national oil companies Pétroles du Sénégal and Société Mauritanienne Des Hydrocarbures.