Deepsea towage operators Augustea Group and transport engineering specialist Fagioli have established a 50-50 joint venture, AF Marine.
Each company will maintain their individual brands and operate independently; the joint venture company will allow both organisations to combine their respective capabilities on specific projects.
Together, the companies have built the deck cargo barge AF-1. Designed by Netherlands-based INEC and built in China, it measures 60 m in length, 24 m wide, with a draught of 6.35 m. It features a deck area of 1,440 sq m and capacity of 20 tonne per square metre (evenly distributed). Classified by Bureau Veritas and sailing under the Malta flag, the barge is certified for unrestricted navigation and load-out operations for special cargoes.
The barge departed on China on January 21 aboard a heavy lift vessel. It will be mobilised at a civil construction project in Denmark for three years.
