APM Terminals Bahrain gets new tugboats
Manama, April 24, 2013
APM Terminals Bahrain, a subsidiary of one of the world leaders in port infrastructure, and the operator of Khalifa Bin Salman Port (KBSP), has inducted two new tugboats into its marine fleet.
The new tugs were inaugurated at a ceremony on Wednesday in the presence of officials from the Port and Maritime Affairs, Bapco, the US Navy and many other leading companies in Bahrain.
Adding to the marine equipment available at Khalifa bin Salman Port (KBSP), the new tugboats will ensure that customers’ marine needs are met to the highest standards.
The Damen Stan 1606 tugboats, commonly known as the ‘workhorses of the sea’ and essential to the marine industry, will provide additional flexibility to meet the growing requirements of the Bahrain shipping community.
Speaking at the launch, Marco Neelsen, APM Terminals Bahrain CEO, said, "We are committed to providing the highest quality of services for our customers, and the addition of the new Damen Stan 1606 tugs to our marine fleet will ensure high performance, advanced technology and importantly, improved port safety and operations."
“Alongside these sizeable purchases, APM Terminals Bahrain continues to pledge its commitment to Bahrain and further cement our strong relationship with the Khalifa bin Salman Port and the wider Maritime community,” he stated.
Bahrain’s strategic location in the heart of the Gulf has meant that it has long been considered the gateway to the region and Northern Gulf in particular. For over four years, APM Terminals Bahrain has been ensuring that the KBSP continues to be an ideal hub for easy access to every market in the Gulf.
APM Terminals Bahrain latest purchase will help maintain the KBSP as a state-of-the-art facility in the Gulf, and continue its operations which have drastically boosted the shipping industry in Bahrain.
The two new tugboats, Svitzer Dilmun and Svitzer Tylos, are compact, robust and highly maneuverable. These features ensure that the tugs are suited for a number of uses, including towing, mooring, line handling, and passenger transport.
The tugboats were selected for use by APM Terminals Bahrain, after successful trials were held at Damen Shipyards Changde in China, where both tugboats put in an exceptional performance.
The tugboats have a bollard pull of 16 tons and their small size means they are able to handle smaller vessels, such as low freeboard ships and barges, efficiently and safely.-TradeArabia News Service
