Martinique port operations company acquires low emission tug

The Azimuth Stern Drive tug Plis Fos was launched from the vertical ship lift at the Damen Song Cam Shipyard on May 3^rd. Following sea trials, the vessel will sail on her own keel from Vietnam to the Isle of Martinique in the Caribbean Sea, where she will be taken into service at the Port of Fort de France by SOMARA.

With approximately 85 tons of bollard pull, the 27,59 meter length over all tug with 12,93 meter beam will take care of manoeuvring the largest ships that enter the Port of Fort de France. Thanks to her twin 3 meter diameter propellers in nozzles that rotate 360 degrees, the vessel also delivers almost 80 tons of bollard pull backwards. Two Caterpillar engines deliver 5050 kW combined. Thanks to exhaust gas aftertreatment, the ASD Tug 2813 is compliant to IMO Tier III emission standards, ensuring clean operations with minimal environmental impact in the Martinique waters. This tug has extensive outfitting, including the aft winch. This makes Plis Fos a versatile vessel, capable of multiple tasks like offshore towing, salvage, ship handling in ports and more. It will be the strongest and most modern tug in the Caribbean, upgrading the regional fleet and placing SOMARA in a competitive place for years ahead.

“We are very pleased to have chosen this state of the art tug proposed by Damen because it was meeting with all our expectations,” says Jean Pierre Porry, president of SOMARA. “Also, because we are very pleased with the recent delivery of a Damen Multi Cat, it is without hesitation that we placed this new order. This tug will enable us to follow the needs expressed by our clients and the Grand Port Maritime de la Martinique in terms of bollard pull but also in terms of low emissions. Everyone at SOMARA is looking forward to the tug Plis Fos starting her operations.”

Delivery to SOMARA at Port of Fort de France is planned in the second half of 2022.