Following the delivery of tugs VB CONCORDE and VB MIRAGE positioned at BOLUDA NANTES SAINT NAZAIRE in August 2019, the delivery of VB ACHERON and VB SURPRISE positioned in BOLUDA MARSEILLE FOS in November 2019, BOLUDA FRANCE has taken delivery on April 24th of VB LONGCHAMP and VB GUARDIAN– the last two of six vessels ordered to the PIRIOU group.

Like the first four vessels of the series, these were built by PIRIOU VIETNAM. On March 23rd they were loaded on board the heavy lift ship PAUWGRACHT which transited through the harbour of Rotterdam before reaching Le Havre.

These two tugs will stay in BOLUDA LE HAVRE and take part in the fleet renewal initiated in 2015. They feature a length of 30.3 metres and 75 tonnes bollard pull. They are exceptionally manoeuvrable vessels and answer the latest requirements of PORT OF LE HAVRE on safety and performance. These tugs bring our customers tailor-made solutions to their business objectives.

Denis MONSERAND, BOLUDA FRANCE Chief Executive Officer, would like to highlight the efficiency and commitment of all the teams of BOLUDA FRANCE, PIRIOU, PORT OF LE HAVRE and the contractors who allowed the delivery of these last two vessels in due time in spite of the current health crisis. This arrival is also commended by Baptiste MAURAND, HAROPA Port of le Havre Chief Executive Officer, who celebrates seeing BOLUDA modernise its fleet to assure its shipowner clients services of the highest quality.

The six tugs of this new series were built on a PIRIOU standard design customized to answer the specific requirements of BOLUDA FRANCE.

PIRIOU has already delivered a first series of eight 70 tonnes bollard pull tugs to BOLUDA FRANCE between 2007 and 2009, then a new series of six built by the Vietnamese subsidiary which were delivered between 2015 and 2017: VB OURAGAN, VB CYCLONE, VB TYPHON, VB TEMPETE, VB VOLCAN, VB TORNADE.

Multipurpose harbour and coastal ASD tugs with Escort class
These units are issued from the OST 30-Omni Stern Tug- model of the tugs range designed by PIRIOU. The OST 30 is a multipurpose tug developed for ‘push pull’ type towage and harbour assistance operations as well as deep sea operations. With a hull length of 30.3 metres, it is also fitted to bring assistance to vessels in access channels. This tug is equipped with two aft azimuth propellers (Azimuth Stern Drive), driven by two marine medium-speed turbocharged four-stroke diesel engines, fresh-water cooled with box cooler refrigerants.

At the bridge, the ergonomics of the single-command control station and the high visibility over the entire working area and its surroundings allow the captain to manoeuvre his tug alone.

In order to answer the operating conditions required by BOLUDA FRANCE, these tugs are equipped with several options including:
– Fi-Fi 1 equipment for fire fighting
– Aft sea towing winch and tugger winch for deep sea towage
– Double drum fore winch with Escort function

The OST 30 is designed to be maintained every five years with special antifouling and ICAF system. Accommodation is in accordance with ILO 2006 requirements and special attention is paid to noise reduction.

Main characteristics
Length overall ……………………………………………. 30.3 m
Breadth moulded ………………………………………. 10.4 m
Depth at main deck ……………………………………. 4.45 m
Max. draught ………………………………………………. 5.3 m
Bollard pull @ 100 % MCR ……………………………… 75 t
Fuel capacity …………………………….… 116 m3
Fresh water capacity ………………….…… 16 m3
Speed ….…………………… … ………… 13 kn
Propulsion …………………………. 2 x 2240 kW
Crew ……………………….……………………… 6
Hull/superstructure …………………………… steel

A full range adapted to the requirements of harbour operators
With over twenty years’ experience in tug construction, PIRIOU has developed a complete range of compact and versatile tugs, from 24 to 32m in length and providing bollard pulls of 30 to 95 tonnes:
– A tugboat for harbour assistance: OST 24W
– Versatile tugboats for harbour and coastal service: OST 24, OST 28, OST 30, OST 32
– A tugboat for escort and terminal services: OST 32E