Italy’s Vittoria Shipyard has delivered the tugboat Cap de Fer (Yard No. No C 869) to the Skikda, Algeria, port authority (Entreprise Portuaire de Skikda).

The ASD tug was ordered in December 2016 by the Algerian Transport Ministry at a cost of EUR 7 million and will carry out towing and escort work on the coasts and in the ports of the North African country

Delivery of Cap de Fer marks Vittoria Shipyard’s renewed role as a player in the domestic and international market for harbor and coastal tugs. In recent years, the yard has specialized in military and paramilitary vessels, work boats and passenger vessels.

Cap de Fer has an overall length of 26 m, width of 10 m, draft of 3.80 m and displaces 500 tonnes fully laden. It has a bollard pull of 42 tonnes thanks to two ASD azimuth thrusters driven by two diesel engines that can develop a total of 3,300 horsepower and give it a top speed of 12.5 knots. These are features that make the vessel well suited for carrying out harbor and coastal tug work, both towing and pushing, and in providing energency assistance and response.

The vessel has accommodations and services for a crew of seven and is classed by Bureau Veritas.

“We are pleased to have delivered to the Algerian authorities our 869th vessel”, said Luigi Duò, president of Vittoria Shipyard. “It is a boat with cutting-edge technology which for us has, above all, a very significant symbolic value, since it marks our return to the tug market, consolidates the relationship of collaboration and mutual respect with the Algerian authorities and strengthens our presence abroad.”