Pacific port tug ordered from Damen

A major port authority in the Pacific has ordered an azimuthing stern drive (ASD) tug from Damen Shipyards to assist larger ships operating in the region. Port Autonome de Papeete on the Pacific island of Tahiti has ordered an ASD 2810 tug from Damen to operate in the port of the capital of French Polynesia.

Port Autonome de Papeete ordered a 60-tonnes bollard pull tug to manoeuvre a wide range of vessels including local ferries, cargo ships, cruise ships, naval vessels and oil tankers. The authority needed modern towage capability because of Tahiti’s reliance on trade.

The tug is under construction at Damen Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam and will be fitted with additional equipment such as an extra aft winch and a FiFi fire-fighting system. It is scheduled to be delivered in October this year.