Third new Damen tug taken into service by Kotug Smit Towage

Kotug Smit Towage has taken the newly-built Damen ATD 2412 Twin Fin tug Buffalo into service for its European harbour towage activities.

The Buffalo is the third tug that Damen has built for Kotug Smit Towage, following the tugs Rotterdam and Southampton. The ATD 2412 Twin Fin tug has a length of 25 metres, a width of 13 metres and with her 72 tonne bollard pull, she combines compactness with manoeuvrability. She is the fifth ATD 2412 Twin Fin in the Kotug Smit Towage fleet and joins over 20 Damen vessels operated by the company.

Kotug Smit Towage selected Damen for high performance and short delivery time. The characteristics of this tug match the fleet of tugs Kotug Smit Towage is currently operating and fit perfectly into its European harbour towage operations. Recently, the Buffalo commenced her harbour towage activities in the Port of Southampton.

David Slater, Kotug Smit Towage Commercial Area Manager United Kingdom, stated, “We welcome the Buffalo in the Port of Southampton to assist all types of vessels of our customers. We are pleased that the Buffalo will complement our existing fleet of tugs to respond to the continuing customer demands.”

Damen Regional Sales Director Mijndert Wiesenekker said, “I congratulate Kotug Smit Towage on the long-term view they take, investing in timely fleet renewal in order to keep their operations at the high standard for which they are known. We at Damen are very happy to be a part of this and wish Kotug Smit Towage all the best with the Buffalo.”

About Kotug Smit Towage

Kotug Smit Towage was established on 7^th April 2016, following the merger of the European harbour towage services of KOTUG (part of Kotug International) and SMIT (subsidiary of Boskalis). It is a leading provider of harbour towage services in north-western Europe, operating in 12 ports in Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands and The United Kingdom. Kotug Smit’s high quality services meet the required operational and safety standards in the maritime industry, enabling them to achieve a leading position in the European ports. www.kotugsmit.eu

Damen Shipyards Group

Damen Shipyards Group operates 34 shipbuilding and repair yards, employing 10,000 people worldwide. Damen has delivered more than 6,000 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers some 160 vessels annually to customers worldwide. Based on its unique, standardised ship-design concept Damen is able to guarantee consistent quality.

Damen’s focus on standardisation, modular construction and keeping vessels in stock leads to short delivery times, low ‘total cost of ownership’, high resale values and reliable performance. Furthermore, Damen vessels are based on thorough R&D and proven technology.

 Damen offers a wide range of products, including tugs, workboats, naval and patrol vessels, high speed craft, cargo vessels, dredgers, vessels for the offshore industry, ferries, pontoons and superyachts.

 For nearly all vessel types Damen offers a broad range of services, including maintenance, spare parts delivery, training and the transfer of (shipbuilding) know-how. Damen also offers a variety of marine components, such as nozzles, rudders, anchors, anchor chains and steel works.

Damen Shiprepair & Conversion (DSC) has a worldwide network of eighteen repair and conversion yards of which twelve are located in North West Europe. Facilities at the yards include more than 50 floating and (covered) drydocks, the largest of which is 420 x 90 metres, as well as slopes, ship lifts and indoor halls. Projects range from the smallest simple repairs through Class’ maintenance to complex refits and the complete conversion of large offshore structures.