Clyde Marine Services takes delivery of its first Damen ASD Tug
Clyde Marine Services has taken delivery of its first Damen ASD Tug. The Damen ASD 2310 has been named CMS Warrior and she will join an extensive, 12-strong fleet of tugs and crew tenders at the Scottish company.
Based in Greenock, Scotland, Clyde Marine Services was established in 1913 and has a long history of working with Damen vessels. The first experience of a Damen vessel was when the marine services company bought a Damen Pushy Cat in the mid-eighties. The fleet includes Damen Stan Tugs 1906 and 1907, as well as two Stan Tug 1’s.
The company’s five harbour tugs service all ports on the River and Firth of Clyde, including Campbeltown. Clyde Marine Services also has a coastal tug Bruiser, operating in the Clyde/Belfast/Liverpool area.
Hamish Munro, Director Clyde Marine Services, says: “We have continually invested in modern tugs. After the Damen Pushy Cat, more Damen vessels followed based on our positive experience.”
The latest addition to the fleet is a Damen ASD 2310 Tug with a 52-tonne bollard pull ahead. Classed by Bureau Veritas, the new tug has modern and spacious accommodation for six crew. “Warrior is a highly versatile vessel, suitable for all kinds of jobs, with proven quality. This means the overall total cost of ownership is very reasonable.”
Damen Sales Manager United Kingdom & Ireland, Arjen van Elk, comments: “It is very satisfying that Clyde Marine Services is convinced that Damen has built the right vessel and we are the right builder for their requirements, even after looking at competitors in several countries. Clyde Marine looked at what was on the market and saw that we offer the best value for money and decided to order with us again.”
Four generations
Mr Munro comments that since becoming established in 1913, four generations of his family have steadily directed and expanded the business into tugs, ferries, passenger tenders, charter cruise vessels, and to provide the vital harbour services of boatmen and riggers. “Our fleet of vessels provide mooring, boarding and towing services around the clock, assisting ship movements within the Clyde area.”
Clyde Marine services’ fleet includes six passenger/crew tenders ranging in capacity from 20 to 250 persons. Tendering operations include cruise liners, Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels, shipbuilding trials and shiprepair parties.
The company has also provided the vital harbour service boatmen and mooring gangs since 1913. All of the boatmen are fully licensed skippers, examined and certificated to MCA Boatmaster Licence standard, who assist ships in the most exposed and difficult situations, and during all kinds of weather conditions. The main focus of operations covers the River from Glasgow to the Firth of Clyde although contracts frequently extend to the islands, lochs and harbours on the West Coast of Scotland.
Additionally, Clyde Marine Services’ crew took the opportunity to undergo some intensive ASD training at the 360-Control tug and offshore simulator centre in IJmuiden, in the Netherlands, which is owned by Damen Shipyards and Iskes Towage.
Clyde Marine Services’ Warrior also arrived on a very special transport, whereby 22 Damen vessels from several Damen shipyards in Asia were carried in one heavy lift transport on a BigLift vessel, the Happy Star. This is Damen’s largest transportation of stock vessels to date.
Following the initial load-out from Shanghai, the HLV made calls at the Vietnamese ports of Hai Phong and Da Nang and at Singapore to collect additional vessels.
Damen ASD Tugs 2310, 2411 and 3212, Stan Tugs 1606, 1004 and 1907, Stan Pontoons 5213 and 3011 and FCS 2610 vessels were included in the transport.
By having a global spread of strategic stock available, Damen always ensures short delivery times of popular vessels. The Damen stock vessels are ready for operation, though they can still be outfitted with client specific options.
