Frank De Lange News

Bugsier, the German towage and maritime service provider, has boosted its already extensive fleet with the addition of a Damen ASD 2411 tug. The tug represents the first purchase of a Damen vessel for Bugsier. Bugsier holds an established position in the German maritime sector: the company is celebrating its 150-year anniversary this year. This operational knowledge brought mutual benefits to the vessel construction process. “Damen is experienced in building tugs, and we are very experienced in operating them,” comments Bugsier Business Development Manager Sven Schrӧder. The Bugsier 22 was built at Damen Shipyards Sharjah (DSSh) in the United Arab Emirates.

BugsierReedereican look back on a history that spans over a century. The company, with the largest tug fleet under German flag,will celebrate their 150th anniversary in 2016, and will also mark the delivery of the newly purchased Damen ASD 2411. The tug, to be delivered from Damen Shipyards Sharjah, will be named Bugsier 22 and serve as a harbour tug in German ports. With a strong tug fleet, Bugsier has been catering to the offshore oil and gas industry for decades as well as the thriving offshore wind energy market. “We operate tugs, which are commonly known to work in both ports and offshore – consequently we enjoy a high degree of utilisation.

Bremenports, the management company for the twin German ports of Bremen and Bremenhaven, took delivery of its first Damen-built vessel – a Stan Tug (Stu) 1606. Built to a proven design and delivered on time, the tug, named Albatros, will be mobilized primarily in assisting maintenance dredging works at the ports. The 16.76 meter Stu 1606 will assist Bremenports’ own bucket dredger in maintenance dredging works at the two ports in northern Germany. “TheAlbatros will carry out anchor handling duties for the bucket dredger,” informs Damen’s Sales Director for NW & S Europe, Frank de Lange.

Damen is to construct a new ASD 3212 tug for Scafi, the Italian shipping group that includes a number of international towing companies. The contract cements their already strong business relationship that goes back 20 years and represents the first Damen ASD 3212 for Italian waters. This is the 15th contract between Scafi and Damen. “We are delighted to work again with a respectable Italian owner such as Scafi,” commented Damen Sales Director North West and South Europe Frank de Lange.

Together with its Italian partner yard Cantiere Navale Vittoria S.p.a., Damen Shipyards are building two Stan Patrols 5509 to the Italian Guardia di Finanza. This Italian law enforcement agency deals with financial crime, smuggling, illegal immigration and narcotics traffic and maintains a fleet of about 250 vessels. The contract, resulting from a European tender, may be considered quite a unique event, said Frank de Lange, sales director North, West and South Europe at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem.

Introducing the ASD Tug 2913 – compact, powerful and ideal for busy ports. Damen Shipyards Group is launching a new vessel type in its ASD Tug series. The ASD Tug 2913 has been designed primarily as a highly manoeuvrable, powerful tug, ideally suited for busy harbours where space is limited. Petersen & Alpers (Germany) is the launching customer for the new tug, which will be delivered end 2014. The new type answers market demand for more powerful tugs as vessels continue to get larger and for more spacious accommodation.