Damen’s latest ASD Tug for Smit Lamnalco
Smit Lamnalco has contracted Damen to build a new, shallow draught ASD Tug 2810, the design of which illustrates the cooperative relationship between the two companies. The tug is set to expand Smit Lamnalco’s oil and gas terminal support services in Novorossiysk, on the Russian Black Sea coast.
The contract specifies for the standard 2810 design in all but one key aspect – the vessel’s draught will have to be reduced to 4.5m due to the shallow working depths in the field of operation in Novorossiysk. “To achieve the desired draught reduction, the lower part of the thruster will have to be modified,” explains Damen Sales Director Mijndert Wiesenekker. “Consequently, the resulting bollard pull will be a still respectable 50t, instead of the standard 60t. However, the design gives the opportunity of reconfiguring the thruster if necessary to achieve maximum bollard pull depending on the client’s needs.”
Smit Lamnalco’s Novorossiysk fleet – presently numbering fifteen vessels – provides operation and maintenance of single point mooring (SPM) systems in the Russian and Kazakhstan oil export industry. As the number of SPMs recently increased to three, the new 2810 ASD tug will meet the needs of this growing market.
“Smit Lamnalco had the idea for a tug with reduced draught in this way, and it was Damen that came up with a good solution,” informs Smit Lamnalco CTO Rick Maliepaard. “We are very happy with the collaboration especially with the possibility of retrofitting the thruster to achieve maximum bollard pull.”
Damen Shipyards Galati will carry out construction of this modified 2810 ASD – delivery is expected in Q2 2015.