Advanced tugboat fleet introduced at major Saudi Red Sea port

Five new azimuth stern drive (ASD) tugs have entered service in Jeddah Islamic Port during 2025 to enhance seaport services to the rising number of vessels calling at the harbour.

Zamil Group subsidiary Western Coast Port Services has welcomed 28-m tugboats built by Damen Shipyards, Sahel 281, Sahel 282, Sahel 283, Sahel 284 and Sahel 285, at the port in October following their construction in China and mobilisation during Q2 and Q3 2025.

“Arrival of the tugs reflects our keenness to enhance our seaport services fleet and support the efficiency of operations,” said Western Coast Port Services, which was established in 2024 and operates Saudi Arabia’s west coast ports of Jeddah and Jazan.

These highly manoeuvrable tugs have a beam of 13 m, a crane on the aft deck, a bollard pull of up to 83 tonnes, supported by 5,050-kW of installed power coming from two high-speed, diesel, four-stroke engines driving two azimuth thrusters at the stern, and have D-shaped fendering on the bow and stern, “giving them exceptional towing and maritime support capability, and reinforcing our commitment to providing port services with high efficiency and reliability,” said Western Coast Port Services.

“We look forward to continuing this success in developing and improving the maritime operations of Jeddah Islamic Port.”

Two more ASD tugs have been ordered “to provide reliable performance in various maritime operations,” said the tug owner.