Sweden’s defence administration has ordered four harbour tugs from Damen Shipyards for delivery in 2023
Albwardy Damen shipyard in the United Arab Emirates will build four ice-class tugs for Defence Materiel Administration of Sweden. This contract was awarded following a tender by Försvarets Materielverk (FMV), the organisation that acquires equipment for the Swedish armed forces.
The four tugs will be built to Damen’s Stan Tugs 1706 design, which is similar to the Stan Tug 1606 design, but with the length extended to 17 m to fit the options FMV required.
When completed, two of these tugs will operate from Stockholm harbour and two more in Karlskrona, while Damen Oskarshamnsvarvet in southeast Sweden will act as a service hub.
Powered by two Volvo D13 MH engines, the twin-screw tugs will have bow thrusters for extra manoeuvrability, while the push knee on the bows will be adapted to navigate in ice.
Damen said these tugs will have equipment to reduce their environmental footprint such as selective catalytic reduction to remove nitrogen dioxide from exhaust gases, soot filters and exhaust silencing to meet IMO Tier III compliance.
An auxiliary generator will provide extra electric power for the heavy-duty cranes, reducing the need for hydraulic oil.
This is the second order FMV has placed with Damen Shipyards, said FMV director for the naval division Patric Hjorth. “This series of new harbour tugs is part of our fleet renewal programme,” he said. “Damen will maintain the vessels from a local yard in Sweden during their lifetime to support and advise us in our mission to provide the Swedish Navy with reliable and smooth-sailing vessels.”
Bilge cooling ducts will transfer engine heat into the waters from a closed-loop system, without take-in of surface water in which ice particles could block the engine cooling system.
Accommodation will have heating and air conditioning for crew safety and comfort.
FMV previously ordered two Damen azimuth stern drive 3010 ice-class tugs. This year, Albwardy Damen shipyard has constructed six Stan Tug 1606 vessels.
