De Boer Remorquage SARL, subsidiary of Baggerbedrijf De Boer, has ordered two custom, special-purpose tugs with Damen Group.
The vessels will be build at Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld in the Netherlands. They are for a ten year contract with Grand Port Maritime de Guyane in the por[ds_preview]ts of Cayenne and Kourou in French Guyana.
Their primary functions will be assisting vessels entering and leaving port, and rendering help in the event of emergencies including fire-fighting. Furthermore the vessels assist with maintenance dredging operations in both ports.
The larger of the two, the WID 2915, will be configured for a variety of roles including dredging using the Air and Water Injection Dredging (AIRSET) method. The smaller ASD 2310 SD (Shallow Draught) tug will be fitted out to operate the equipment needed for bed-levelling, and will also carry out surveying activities. As these two tugs will be the only support vessels available to either port they can also be used for the transportation of equipment and cargo, up to container-sized loads.
According to Damen Group the WID 2915 is due for delivery in February 2018, with the ASD 2310 SD joining it in November 2017.
Joining Dutch Dredging in the project is the IJmuiden-based Iskes Towage & Salvage, which will be Dutch Dredging’s co-owner in the French subsidiary company De Boer Remorquage SARL, which is the legal entity that ordered the vessels. It will also operate the tugs and will aim to employ and train a number of local staff and crew in the skills required to man and maintain workboats.
Iskes has a few tugs delivered by Damen
Iskes already operates a number of Damen vessels, including three ASD 2810 tugs, and is due to take delivery of a Damen ASD 3212 in the next few weeks. Its operating experience in harbour towing and assistance has already provided valuable input for the design and build process.
