SLM invests in fleet to expand Indonesian port operations

Newbuilding campaign

In 2024, SLM received six deck cargo vessels, four flat-top barges, two tank barges and six twin-screw tugs from shipyards. Tuong Aik Shipyard in Malaysia constructed the Apollo and Helios series of tugs and Palma Progress Shipyard in Batam, Indonesia built the Mars series of harbour tugs. Rizhao Gang Da Shipbuilding Industry and Jiangsu Huatai Shipbuilding, both in China, built the barges and ships. 

“In 2025, we will take delivery of two flat-top barges, two tank barges and seven twin-screw tugs,” says Mr Lavoine. Tuong Aik Shipyard will construct these tugboats, with the first scheduled for delivery in May 2025.

“In early January 2025, we ordered four ASD tugs from a shipyard in China, but they will only be delivered during Q2 2026. We are now discussing with our shareholders about the opportunity to build six more ASD tugs, plus more flat-top barges, tanker barges and twin-screw tugs. We are growing aggressively, hence the need to increase our fleet.”

Technical and operational requirements are different between SLM’s twin-screw tugs, which have a bollard pull of around 20 tonnes and a quick-release towing hook; while the ASD tugs have a bollard pull of 50 tonnes, larger deck space and are equipped with a towing winch. 

“There is a scarcity of ASD tugs available to purchase. It is hard to find secondhand tugs, so it is a good market to invest in.” Overall, there is a shortage of tugboats in Indonesia. “There are not enough, as people decided to build barges and not many built tugboats,” says Mr Lavoine.

“Our new ASD tugs will be designed for port operations and for jack-up rig towing. We are slowly entering the offshore market, just in Indonesia.”

SLM is splitting its ASD tug usage 20% for offshore towage and 80% in the port business. All its ASD tugboats have FiFi-class fire-fighting systems and are prepared to tackle maritime emergencies. “We have done fire-fighting jobs, such as extinguishing a fire on a tanker and providing emergency towage to container vessels,” says Mr Lavoine.

“We put FiFi on our tugs to gain a competitive advantage and it becomes useful to have.”

Sustainable fleet

Adding newbuilds mean SLM’s emissions are rising, but it is working towards sustainable towage operations and reducing emissions from its fleet. “The carbon footprint of our new vessels is much lower than in the past,” Mr Lavoine explains. “We have installed solar panels on all our new tanker barges, our newly built deck cargo vessels are equipped with organic Rankine-cycle devices to use the energy from the steam generated by the boiler and convert it into electric power, and we constantly work with our designers to improve the efficiency of our vessels.” 

As an example, between its first generation of deck cargo vessels built in 2017 and the third generation of such vessels built in 2024, the fuel consumption has been reduced by 10% for the same speed. It has also changed the fuels used on the tugboats.

“All our tugs must be able to burn biofuel, as a blend of 60% diesel and 40% biofuel has been made mandatory by the Indonesian government,” Mr Lavoine explains. “There is good availability of biofuels, even in remote locations in Indonesia, which has a lot of biofuels and bio commodities.” However, this is not the case with other green alternatives.

“We are not moving to electric propulsion or LNG fuel as the infrastructure in Indonesia is not ready.”

Crew training

SLM employs Indonesian seafarers, with about 4,000 crew working regularly on board its vessels. “We partner with various Indonesian merchant marine schools, sponsor them and permanently welcome cadets on board our vessels,” says Mr Lavoine.

“Our crewing, quality, health, safety and environment [QHSE], technical and operations departments have implemented an inhouse training programme, whose attendance is compulsory for all crew.”

The programme includes three days of training every year in SLM’s head offices for all its seafarers. On top of that, each vessel is inspected and assessed at least three times a year by the company’s QHSE department.

Riviera’s TUGTECHNOLOGY ‘25 will be held in Antwerp, 22-23 May 2025. Click here for more information on this industry-leading event.