Damen Shipyards said MV Kairi, the first of four ASD 2810 tugs ordered by ARC Towage, has left for Trinidad.
On 31 July 2013, ARC Towage singed four contracts at the Netherlands shipbuilder. The newbuilding contracts with ARC Towage are the result of a special joint venture set-up for the terminal berthing services for a significant energy industry player in Trinidad and Tobago.
The second vessel will leave in two weeks. The last two tugs will arrive mid-December this year. The tugs are being built at Damen Shipyards Galati, Romania, and will be delivered by Damen Services in Trinidad and Tobago before 1 January 2015.
The vessels will provide towage services for escorting, berthing and un-berthing of LNG vessels.
The ASD Tugs 2810 have a minimal bollard pull of 60 tons and a maximum speed of 12.9 knots. For operation in and around the LNG terminal, the vessels are equipped with rig savers on all engines which are remote shut off valves, remote-closing air intakes, gas detection systems and exterior explosion-proof lighting.
Press Release, October 2, 2014; Damen