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Sharjah Ports Authority (SPA) officially celebrated the keel laying of two new vessels on December 11th this year. Mohammed Meer Al Sarrah, Director of the Department of Seaports and Customs at the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority and Sharjah Airport International Free Zone, presided over the ceremony, which was held at Damen Shipyards Sharjah.
The United Arab Emirates port and customs authority has been a long-term customer of Damen and already has eight Damen Stan Tugs in its fleet. The new Damen ASD Tug 2411 is the port’s first ASD tug and the Damen Stan Pilot 1605 FRP boasts the latest pilot boat design, with a refined hull providing superior sea keeping abilities. The new pilot vessel is also capable of a relatively fast speed of 33 knots.
The order for the two new vessels is the first time SPA will take delivery of vessels built in Hamriyah Free Zone in Sharjah, which is one of three ports owned by Sharjah Ports Authority. With a 67 tonne bollard pull, the Damen ASD Tug 2411, equipped with firefighting and water spraying capabilities, will be deployed in Khor Fakkan, while the pilot boat will be stationed in Port Khalid.
Currently, eight vessels are under construction at Damen’s Sharjah yard – four Damen ASD Tug 2411 and four ASD Tug 2810 types. Pascal Slingerland, Damen Sales Manager, Middle East, commented: “The ASD Tugs are highly maneuverable and powerful vessels and ideally suited for Khor Fakkan, which has recently undergone a large expansion. It is a big advantage that Damen is based in the Port Authority’s own Free Zone, when construction is going on and thereafter so we can support Sharjah Port Authority with our onsite warranty and service engineers and our modern dry dock facility.”
