P&O acquires newbuild for Mediterranean operations

P&O Maritime Logistics has taken delivery of a new escort tug to support ultra large container ships calling at a major terminal on Cyprus. Sanmar Shipyards built P&O Gaynde to Robert Allan Ltd’s RAstar 2900-SX design with twin main diesel engines, compliant with IMO Tier III emissions standards, and azimuth Z drives at the stern. 

It arrived in Limassol at the end of October according to automatic identification system data, where there is a large DP World container terminal.

This tugboat has an overall length of 29 m, a moulded beam of 13 m, a moulded depth of around 5 m, a maximum draught of almost 6 m and a FiFi1-class fire-fighting system.

It has storage for 172.5 m³ of fuel oil, 21.8 m³ of fresh water and 1.2 m³ of lubricant oil. Sanmar equipped this tug with a hawser winch, a staple on the forward deck and heavy bow fendering for ship-assistance work. P&O Gaynde can achieve a minimum of 80 tonnes of bollard pull ahead and minimum of 75 tonnes astern, a free running speed ahead of 12 knots and has accommodation for a crew of up to eight.

P&O Maritime Logistics operations director for port services, Nikhil Ahluwalia, says this delivery is part of a long-standing collaboration with Sanmar, adding another similar tugboat is due to be delivered soon. “We continue our fleet expansion and look forward to soon receiving the next tugboat, P&O Asia, which will further enhance our capabilities.”

This collaboration between Sanmar and P&O Maritime Logistics underscores a mutual commitment to innovation and sustainability.

“The range of tugs we have delivered to P&O Maritime Logistics in the past decade or so is an example of how we are able to meet an operator’s specific needs in differing ports across the globe,” says Sanmar Shipyards chairman Ali Gürün. “We work closely with both new and existing clients at every stage to ensure we provide a service tailored to their individual operations.”

P&O Gaynde’s arrival comes after a busy period of fleet expansion for P&O. The DP World subsidiary welcomed azimuth stern drive (ASD) tugs and a Multi Cat in 2023 and 2024.

This included new harbour tug P&O Kalypso at DP World’s terminal in Limassol after its construction by Uzmar Shipyard in Turkey to Robert Allan Ltd’s RAmparts 2300 design. It has two MAN Energy Solutions main engines and Kongsberg azimuth thrusters, a FiFi1 fire-fighting system and a bollard pull of 60 tonnes.

P&O also extended its towage services into the Caribbean by deploying two new tugboats to the Dominican Republic in 2023. P&O Carey was built by Sanmar to Robert Allan’s exclusive RAmparts 2400 SXII design, with an overall length of 24 m, a beam of 12 m, a depth of almost 5 m and a draught of 5 m when fully loaded. 

It was designed with a high level of mechanical automation for a reduced crew, with a top speed of 12 knots and more than 80 tonnes of bollard pull. 
Sanmar also built P&O Manati to Robert Allan’s TRAktor-Z 2500SX design. The azimuth tractor drive tug handles ships and supports terminal operations. This 25-m vessel has a beam of 12 m, a depth of 5 m and a draught of almost 7 m, plus a speed of 12 knots and a bollard pull of more than 80 tonnes from twin Z-drives. 

In Jebel Ali, UAE, P&O took delivery of two ASD newbuild tugs from Damen Shipyards to enhance towage in ports, terminals and a key regional shipyard. Al Wasl and Mihaiz were built by Damen to its ASD 2312 design, incorporating twin-fin hulls, a FiFi1 off-ship fire-fighting system, two Caterpillar main engines and Rolls-Royce Aquamaster propulsion, providing an ahead bollard pull of 65 tonnes.1