Citikold Group subsidiary Cititug in Ecuador purchased a newbuild tug from Damen Shipyards Group to bolster safety at a ship bunkering terminal in the Port of Esmeraldas
Damen built this azimuth stern drive (ASD) tug at the Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam as a stock vessel and is transporting it from Vietnam to Ecuador on a heavy-lift vessel.
ASD Mater is scheduled to arrive in the middle of November, when Cititug plans to hold a blessing and naming ceremony.
This tug was built to an ASD 2813 design with an overall length of 27.6 m and beam of 12.9 m.
Cititug owner Xavier Game said the company needed to buy a newbuild vessel for higher capabilities to assist ships and safe operations in the terminal. “This will be one of the best tugs in South America and will play an important role in making the terminal safer and more efficient,” said Mr Game.
ASD Mater, as with other ASD 2813 tugs, will have 5,050 kW of total power from its propulsion, giving it bollard pull of around 85 tonnes and top speed of 13 knots. Damen tailored this tug for operations at the bunkering terminal and Cititug’s specific requirements.
It added a deck crane to enable its role in a bunkering terminal. Damen also installed a FiFi1 class notation fire-fighting unit and an oil-spill pollution control system, which it said was “the first of its kind in Ecuador”.
“It is something unique, not just for Cititug,” said Mr Game, “this is something big for the whole region.”
Other tug owners have expanded their fleets this year, with Tug Technology & Business noting owners such as Starnav, Wilson Sons and SAAM Towage investing in their fleets.
The upcoming issue (fourth quarter) of Tug Technology & Business has a special focus on tug operations in the Americas
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