Damen Shipyards and Abu Dhabi Ports Forge Alliance with New Tugboat Contract
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At an official event during the Abu Dhabi Boat Show, Damen Shipyards Group has formalized a contract with Abu Dhabi Ports and its subsidiary, Abu Dhabi Marine Services (Safeen), for the provision of two new Damen ASD Tugs 2411. This agreement was sealed by Captain Adil Ahmed Banihammad, the Acting Chief Marine Services Officer at Safeen, alongside Pascal Slingerland, the Regional Sales Director for Damen Shipyards Group. The scheduled delivery of both tugs is anticipated within around three months.
Abu Dhabi Ports plays a crucial role in the economy of Abu Dhabi, managing 11 ports and overseeing over 55,000 vessel calls annually. The addition of ASD Tugs 2411 will significantly enhance the vessel handling capabilities of the organization. Models of this class are operational worldwide and are praised for their superior traction (70 tonnes), dependability, and agility, all encapsulated in a compact, 24-meter structure.
The new tugs will integrate with the twelve harbor tugs currently operational with Safeen, the fleet management division of Abu Dhabi Ports, which oversees pilotage, mooring, vessel management, and towage services at Abu Dhabi Ports, thereby introducing elevated capabilities. They will notably assist in the movement of vessels at Khalifa Port’s two container terminals managed by ADT/MSC and COSCO Shipping Port Limited (CSPL), along with supporting EGA’s berth designated for Bauxite shipments to its smelter in Al Taweelah.
The three-month delivery schedule has been made feasible due to Damen’s strategy of constructing their most sought-after vessels for inventory. The ASD Tugs 2411 are currently being customized to meet the specifications of Abu Dhabi Ports/Safeen at Albwardy Damen in the UAE, prior to their voyage to Khalifa Port.
Joining the Safeen fleet will be the ASD Tugs 2411 alongside three existing Damen vessels; a Stan Tug 1907 that was delivered earlier this year and the Shoalbuster 2609 Al Maqtaa, which was received in 2016. Additionally, the Al Shahama, a Damen Buoy Maintenance Vessel constructed in 1994 in Abu Dhabi under the Damen Technical Cooperation program, also actively contributes to the Safeen fleet. Local warranty and post-sale support will consistently be provided by Albwardy Damen from its bases in the United Arab Emirates.
“We are delighted that Abu Dhabi Ports has selected our established ASD Tug 2411 to bolster the container terminals at Abu Dhabi Ports,” comments Damen’s Pascal Slingersland. “We are confident that they will manage port operations for vessels of all types and dimensions safely and effectively, including the world’s largest 400-meter container ships capable of carrying 20,000 TEUs.” Moreover, our Damen Services Hub is conveniently located nearby to offer ongoing assistance to Abu Dhabi Ports throughout the tugs’ operational lifespan.
Captain Adil Ahmed Banihammad, Acting Chief Marine Services Officer at Abu Dhabi Marine Services – SAFEEN, remarked: “The expansion of our fleet with two high-performance tugboats at Khalifa Port marks a significant achievement for Safeen in fulfilling our clients’ requirements professionally and enhances Khalifa Port’s capacity, making it the first port in the GCC equipped to accommodate the world’s largest container and shipping vessels. The increasing average size of vessels has surged by 65 percent owing to economies of scale, and we acknowledge the necessity of equipping our ports with the appropriate tools and logistics to adapt to these evolving demands.”
Captain Banihammad further expressed: “Khalifa Port serves as a strategic gateway for trade and transport into Abu Dhabi and the broader region. Our continuous efforts to develop supportive infrastructure and elevate the overall customer experience here align with international standards, aimed at establishing a new benchmark in the maritime sector of the region.”
