Damen Shipyards Group has delivered an ASD Tug 3010 ICE to Sweden’s Sundsvall Hamn (Port of Sundsvall), replacing an older tug that was built in 1972.
The tug will spend around 75% of its time breaking ice to enable the entry and departure of vessels from Sundsvall Hamn, as well the harbours of Östrand, Tunadal, Mokajen, Vindskarsvarv, Kubal, and Stockvik nearby.
Additionally, it will perform escort towage operations and, when occasion demands it, assist vessels with broken thrusters and in harsh winds. It will also conduct crew transfer duties from time to time. The tug is additionally outfitted with FiFi 1 firefighting capabilities.
Sundsvall Hamn has named the vessel Drake – the Swedish word for dragon. After a devastating fire in 1888, the city was rebuilt, largely in stone, earning it the name of Stenstaden – Stone City. After this, the dragon was adopted as the city’s symbol.
Sundsvall Hamn had a number of reasons for selecting Damen for its new vessels, says CEO Johan Stenström. “Damen has been building vessels like this one for a long time and enjoys a good reputation in the business. Besides this, we were working with an older vessel, in a harsh environment. It was important to us, in order to ensure the reliability of our operations, to have a new, high-quality vessel delivered quickly.”
Drake has a Damen Marine NOX Reduction System installed. This in-house developed selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system, reduces NOX emissions by up to 80%, ensuring compliance with IMO Tier III regulations.
Damen also installed a shore power connection to the ASD 3010 ICE. With this, Sundsvall Hamn is able to heat the tug at the quayside using electricity, thereby substantially reducing emissions.
A further feature of the tug is a winterisation package that ensures its suitability for operations in the sometimes harsh Baltic conditions that Sundsvall experiences. This, too, is designed to reduce emissions.
“The tug features a substantial amount of insultation,” states Captain Mats Lundberg. “Not only does this ensure a comfortable working environment for those onboard, but it also increases efficiency, reducing the amount of energy required to heat the vessel and lowering operational costs and emissions.”
As part of its stock building strategy, Damen had already constructed the tug at Damen Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam, before outfitting it in the Netherlands.
