Poland welcomes three new Damen tugs

The first two vessels, Ares, an ASD Tug 2813, and Mars, an ASD Tug 2811, were delivered by Damen in July this year. They were built at Damen Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam and began operations in August in the client’s home port of Gdansk following their christening in Rotterdam.

The third, named Pax, was built by Albwardy Damen in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates and completes the three-tug order placed at the beginning of 2023 by WUZ Port and Maritime Services, Poland’s largest towage company.

“We are very pleased to welcome the final tug of this order to our fleet,” said Marek Wengrzyn, chief executive of WUZ Port and Maritime Services.

“Damen’s tugs have proven themselves to be reliable, and these compact tugs will be a valuable asset in the port and will further enhance the service provision that we offer to our clients.”

Like Mars, Pax is an ASD Tug 2811. This 28 metre next generation vessel features optimal performance and efficiency as well as advanced connectivity, says Damen, and is designed to meet the increasing demand for higher bollard pull in compact tugs as commercial vessels get bigger while the harbours stay the same.

With the delivery of Pax, WUZ Port and Maritime Services now has seven Damen tugs in its fleet of 17. Their role is vital to the Port of Gdansk, handling the tankers, container vessels, bulk carriers and drilling rigs that use the port, as well as undertaking deep-water and coastal towage and other support activities.

The recent acquisitions are in response to the Port of Gdansk Authority’s expansion of its industrial areas and quaysides including a new container terminal.

A new LNG import and regasification facilities are also going to be constructed in the Gulf of Gdansk.