Italian maritime service provider takes delivery of its first Damen tug
Italian maritime service provider Ocean S.r.l. has welcomed its first DAMEN tug – a Stan Tug 2608 – into its fleet. The company, part of the Ocean-Team Group, will deploy the vessel in harbour towage operations in the ports of Monfalcone and Porto Nogaro in the northern reaches of the Adriatic Sea, DAMEN said in a press release.
The signing of the delivery protocol was attended by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, at the Palazzo Reale in Milan, as part of a recent State Visit to Italy with a parallel Netherlands Economic Mission.
The Ocean Group operates more than 40 vessels and barges to provide tug, towage and offshore services in the Adriatic, Mediterranean and Caspian Seas. Harbour towage in Italy, Slovenia and Montenegro forms the core of the group’s operations portfolio.
Flexible harbour assistance
The new tug, called Bat, will strengthen Ocean’s capacity in the compact confines of the port of Monfalcone. To this end, the 26-metre long vessel’s 45-tonne bollard pull has been supplemented with an aft winch to allow operations over the stern as well as over the bow. Further modifications include installation of FiFi equipment (600m3 capacity), towing pins and adjustments required for Italian Flag compliance.
Damen delivered the Bat on its own keel from DAMEN Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam. “This is another service that we can offer our customers,” says DAMEN Regional Sales Manager Andrea Trevisan. “I would like to praise the excellent work carried out by the delivery crew in sailing the tug from our specialist tug production yard. This was not an easy task as it was the beginning of the monsoon season, which saw this 26-metre long tug experiencing 5-metre high waves. Vessel and crew arrived safely at the delivery destination in Trieste, Italy.”
First impressions
An important aspect of the vessel order was Ocean’s specification for a fast delivery time. “We required a delivery time of six months – and we are pleased to say that DAMEN has fully met our requirements,” comments Ocean Managing Director Mrs Michela Cattaruzza Bellinello.
Special delivery
Mr Trevisan describes the signing of the delivery protocol as a very memorable occasion. “It has taken 50 years for DAMEN to deliver the first tug to the Ocean Team Group based in Trieste,” he says. “This could not have been celebrated better as we were privileged to complete this delivery in the presence of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima. This was a true honour and very emotional!”
“We are proud to see a DAMEN tug sailing under the Ocean flag. We are certainly looking forward to building a long and productive business relationship together.”
