SAAM orders two ASD Tugs 2411 from Damen Shipyards Group
SAAM S.A. has placed orders with the Damen Shipyards Group for two ASD Tugs 2411, the Group said in a news release. SAAM is based in Chile from where it offers towage, logistics and port services in South, Central and North America. With a fleet of nearly 200 vessels it is the largest such operator in the region. At 24-metres in length the ASD 2411 is a compact yet powerful vessel with a maximum bollard pull of 70 tonnes and can be found in operation all over the world. Sturdily built to a state-of-the art design, they are highly manoeuvrable and exceptionally reliable.
Damen and SAAM have known each other for many years. A joint venture between SAAM and Smit ordered an ASD Tug 2913 in 2015 for operations in Panama. Additionally, SAAM operates three Damen Stan Tugs purchased between 1995 and 1999. These were ordered through René Berkvens, then Damen sales manager responsible for Chile and now CEO of the Damen Shipyards Group.
SAAM representatives flew to Damen’s shipyard in Vietnam, where the two vessels had been built and were then being held in stock, to inspect them. The contract was signed the following day for delivery just three months later, including all the required modifications. The representatives selected the Damen vessels based on their combination of high build and service quality, flexibility and fast delivery times. Damen is also arranging the transport from Vietnam on a heavy lift vessel and is supplying a number of additional services including crew training in Chile. The duties of the vessels will be harbour operations in Chile.
Mr. Pablo Caceres, Fleet Technical Manager of SAAM Towage, commented: "It is very exciting to introduce these two ASD 2411 tugs to the fleet of more than 185 tugboats that SAAM operates today around the Americas. We are looking forward to seeing the performance and high operational effectiveness for which Damen is well known and, of course, to seeing our clients appreciating these qualities as well."
