Damen teams up with Yeoman Marine to build tugboats

Dutch shipbuilder Damen has teamed up with Yeoman Marine Services Pvt Ltd to construct tugboats in India, a move that will offer strong competition to Vancouver, Canada-based Robert Allan Ltd, whose tugboat design is widely used by local yards.

Robert Allan and Damen are specialists in tugboat design and construction, but local shipowners and shipbuilders have expressed concern over the government’s Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP), which they claim was drafted keeping the Canadian naval architect and marine engineer in mind.

Damen and Yeoman Marine have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) under which the Dutch firm will ‘provide advanced and reliable know-how in design, engineering and supply chain’ whereas Yeoman Marine will construct the tugboats at its yard located in Ratnagiri ‘using modern modular techniques for sustained quality and faster turnaround.

This partnership is expected to expand national capacity in shipbuilding and shall fulfil the demand of high-quality tugboats by Indian customers.

Family-owned Damen runs shipyards around the world while privately-run Yeoman Marine is a turnkey service provider in ship repairs and ship system delivery.

It acquired the Ratnagiri shipyard in Maharashtra, which was run by Bharati Defence and Offshore Engineering Co Ltd till it went bankrupt and was sold under the bankruptcy law.

Harbor tugs form an indispensable part of port operations. Around 350-400 tugs operate in Indian ports in both public and private sectors.

Tugboats are used for various purposes such as to pull and push big cargo ships and guide them into and out of a port, operate as a standby vessel for safety and for emergency requirements as well as for offshore support services. By virtue of their unique operating profile, harbour tugs provide a huge potential for emission reduction at the ports.