Two Damen custom-built tugs will be able to take on almost any problem at the ports of Cayenne and Kourou in French Guiana, by assisting vessels and the transport of cargo, performing dredging activities and even tackling emergencies such as fire-fighting.
The order by Baggerbedrijf De Boer B.V. (Dutch Dredging B.V.), which has taken an active role in developing the vessels, will see the delivery of a WID 2915 (pictured), able to perform water and air injection dredging – known as 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.
Both tugs will have the capability to transport container-sized loads of equipment and cargo as the only support vessels available to either port. The WID 2915 is due for delivery in February 2018, with the ASD 2310 SD joining it in November 2017.
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Joining Dutch Dredging in the project is the IJmuiden-based Iskes Towage & Salvage, part of a group of companies that ordered the vessels. It has contributed its operating experience in harbour towing and assistance for the design and building process of the tugs.
Jos van Woerkum, managing director of Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld, said: “While we know Iskes Towage and Salvage well, this is our first time working with Baggerbedrijf De Boer. Yet in just a few months we developed together the WID 2915 by taking an existing Damen design and adding the collective experience of the two project partners to create the optimum solution.”
