CORIMA, part of the Italian Gesmar Group, has ordered a Damen ASD Tug 2810.
The Damen ASD Tug 2810, which has a 60 metric tons bollard pull, will be deployed in the port of Ancona. With the official signing ceremony taking place on January 12, the new tug is due to be delivered at the end of the year.
Riccardo Vitiello, CORIMA President and Managing Director Gesmar Group, said, “We already have a Damen ASD Tug 3110 and have always thought Damen is a very good, high quality shipbuilder. We were looking for a harbor tug but also one that is suitable for offshore terminal towage.”
CORIMA serves two offshore oil terminals (owned by API Refinery) so it wanted a tug with good seakeeping behavior to be able to operate in open sea. “We have also seen from other Damen 2810 operators that the tug will be able to do over 60 metric tons bp. Coupled with this she is ideally suited for compact harbors.”
Additionally, Vitiello said the company was keen to get an ASD Tug because it believes the ideal towing configuration is having an ASD bow first, at the stern of a vessel, and then a tractor tug at the bow.
With FiFi 1, the tug will be Italian flagged and will be used to replace a twin-screw tug. The vessel is due to be delivered before the end of the year.
Andrea Trevisan, Damen Regional Sales Manager, said, “We are truly delighted to be working with such a renowned and respected Italian shipowner again after 13 years. The Gesmar Group is one of the largest Italian tug owners. At the company’s head office in Ravenna several awards for Operational Excellence are displayed, demonstrating the Group’s commitment to quality.
Trevisan added, “The Damen ASD Tug 2810 is proven in the industry. More than 170 of these compact, powerful tugs are working in ports worldwide. They are known by their captains for their quick acceleration and maneuverability. We are sure that CORIMA will be very satisfied with the tug’s performance in the port of Ancona.”