December 29 - Multraship and Damen Shipyards Group have confirmed an agreement for three new ASD tugs, all scheduled for delivery in 2015.
Two of the ASD (azimuth stern drive) tugs are to be delivered in Vietnam, and will operate as sister vessels to Multraship's 83-tonne bollard pull Multratug 19, which was built by Damen in Romania and delivered in 2012.
The third tug - a 2810 Hybrid - is scheduled to be delivered in Romania during the first quarter of 2015. With a bollard pull of 61 tonnes, Damen says that the new tug will be the second vessel of its type to come into operation.
The hybrid tug has a diesel-direct, diesel-electric and battery-powered propulsion system, resulting in reported fuel savings of between 10 and 30 percent and reduced emissions of about 60 percent, depending on how the vessel is used, said Damen.
Leendert Muller, managing director of Multraship, explained that the three new ASD tugs are particularly suitable for use in the offshore energy sector, as well as harbour towage operations.
