Damen Builds Tug, Dredger for Nicaragua

The Nicaraguan port authority Empresa Portuaria Nacional (EPN) is set to take delivery of two newbuilds from Damen Shipyards Group. Damen built both vessels, a Damen Stan Tug 2608 and a Cutter Suction Dredger CSD350, at its yards in the Netherlands, and they are completed and underway.

Damen Sales Manager Pieter Becker signed the contract for the Stan Tug 2608 on September 2, 2014 during a maritime trade mission to Nicaragua organized by the Netherlands Council for Trade. The contract for the dredger followed shortly after on November 15.

“For the client, the delivery time was the most important factor,” Becker said. “Building proven vessels from stock, we’ve been able to meet EPN’s requirements very quickly.”

The Stan Tug 2608, named El Danto, was built at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem and is currently sailing on her own keel to Nicaragua, and is expected to arrive in the country’s largest port, Puerto Corinto, on December 26. 

“The port already has smaller Damen tugs in its fleet,” Becker noted. “Now, though, they need a more powerful harbor tug to work with the largest vessels the port handles. The Stan Tug 2608, with a 47-metric-ton bollard pull, is a perfect fit for the job.”

The CSD350, built at Damen Dredging Equipment Nijkerk, is presently travelling to Nicaragua disassembled, with its loose parts in containers. The dredger will be assembled and launched after her expected arrival at the end of January 2015.

Becker said, “EPN will put the vessel to work on a number of projects. These include maintenance work in Puerto Corinto, on several rivers and on Lake Managua.”