Svitzer expands Panama tractor tug fleet

A second tractor tugboat has been built in Turkey for Svitzer as it increases its towage capabilities in Panama.

The Danish tug owner watched the launch of a second of these 26-m tugs, yard number ER174, at Med Marine’s Eregli shipyard in late July after the first was launched in May. Both were built on the Black Sea coast to Robert Allan Ltd’s TRAktor 2600-Z design with a bollard pull of 65 tonnes, a top speed of 12 knots, a beam of 13 m, a draught of 6 m and accommodation for six crew members.

Med Marine said these tugs are engineered to handle tankers, bulk carriers and container ships in Panama’s harbours with hull geometry and propulsion designed for precise manoeuvrability and directional stability.

“The design reflects a strong commitment to operational efficiency, achieving optimum fuel consumption without sacrificing performance, setting a new benchmark for smart, sustainable harbour towage,” said Med Marine.

Svitzer’s first TRAktor 2600-Z design tug, ER173, was launched at the Eregli shipyard on 13 May and has since been commissioned and prepared for delivery.