Jim Iskes, owner of Iskes Towage & Salvage, the leading maritime service provider based in the port of IJmuiden / Amsterdam, has signed a contract at the ITS 2018 event in Marseille with Damen for the supply of two ASD Tugs 2312.

The ASD Tug 2312 is one of Damen’s new, compact, next-generation designs created to provide efficient ship-handling operations, while also having the capability to perform occasional additional tasks such as salvage and coastal towing. It delivers 60 tonnes of bollard pull in both push and pull modes, and smart layout options make them exceptionally versatile. The ASD Tug 2312 offers six-person, MLC compliant, accommodation and an aft deck area of 54 m².

The ASD 2312 is also laid out to comply with the new stability regulations, initiated as Harmonised Class rules and enforced by the IMO for adaptation in January 2020. These address the issues presented by the increasing power and compactness of modern ship-handling tugs so as to ensure maximum safety in their operations.

The two new tugs for Iskes are being purchased in anticipation of a new port contract that the company anticipates starting in late 2019 / early 2020. They selected the ASD 2312 based on its compact design and high level of specification including IMO tier 3 compliance, and its attractive pricing.

Peter Rondhuis and Dirk Martens of Iskes Towage & Salvage said: “Through our close cooperation with Damen we have together blended our own needs and objectives with their knowledge and experience of both worlds into this new design. The result is perfect for our needs and we very much look forward to the first delivery!”

Mijndert Wiesenekker, Sales Director Benelux for Damen, added: “After a year of fine-tuning this new standard design we are delighted that Iskes has become the first operator of the Damen ASD 2312.”

These latest purchases will take the number of Damen ASD Tugs owned and operated by Iskes to eleven in a total fleet of 20 vessels.