On June 25th, at a ceremony held at Albwardy Damen in the UAE, Damen Shipyards Group signed a landmark contract with Western Coast Port Services (WCPS) to construct six ASD Tugs. This order consists of five ASD Tugs 2813 and one ASD Tug 3212, which will be operated at Saudi Arabia's Jeddah Port.

Damen’s ability to tailor its tugs to meet specific client needs provides another advantage. For this order, Damen is adapting the vessels to suit the Middle Eastern climate by incorporating additional air-conditioning and cooling equipment, ensuring optimal performance in the region’s challenging conditions.

Karim Barakat, CEO of Western Coast Port Services said, “With its fast delivery, customization and lifecycle support, Damen demonstrates a very client-centric approach that ensures that the vessels it delivers are not just ships, but solutions tailored to our unique needs.”

Damen Regional Sales Director Emre Turkoz said, “The order for these six new tugs underscores WCPS’s unwavering dedication to enhancing their operational capabilities and maintaining high standards of service in port services. It is a testament to their commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence in the maritime industry, ensuring the highest level of service for their clients and stakeholders. On behalf of Damen, I wish them every success with their new vessels and am looking forward to continuing to build our relationship in the future.”

Damen signs four vessel contract with Toyota Tsusho for Angolan port development project

The order consists of two ASD Tugs 2813, a Pushy Cat 1004 and a Stan Pilot 1905. The vessels will be provided to the Ministry of Transport Angola as part of a Japanese Government funded port development project in Namibe.

Damen will deliver the vessels in Q1 2025. The relative speed of the delivery is facilitated by Damen’s practice of building its proven, standard vessels in series for stock. The shipbuilder had already commenced construction of the vessels at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem, the Netherlands (Pushy Cat 1004), Damen Shipyards Antalya, Turkey (Stan Pilot 1905), and Damen Song Cam Shipyard, Vietnam (ASD Tugs 2813), prior to receiving the order.

Toyota Tsusho is a first-time client of Damen. The large Japanese trading house has a global presence with a diverse portfolio. In addition to supporting the business activities of Toyota Motors, the company is also active in the industrial, commercial, and consumer sectors. Toyota Tsusho frequently collaborates with the Japanese Government on infrastructure projects worldwide.

“The port development project enables an increase in vessel traffic in Namibe,” said Hiroumi Ohara, General Manager Africa Power & Infrastructure Department of Toyota Tsusho. “To facilitate this, the port requires some new, high-quality workboats. We approached Damen, aware of the company’s reputation for the fast delivery of proven, high-performing vessels. We look forward to cooperating with Damen during the construction of these new vessels, which will play an important role in boosting the Angolan economy in the coming years.”

Thomas Röwekamp, Regional Sales Director Asia Pacific at Damen, said, “Working with a new client for the first time is always a proud moment. Given the nature of this contract, which holds significant potential for Angola, we are particularly pleased to have been selected by Toyota Tsusho. We are looking forward to cooperating on the delivery of these four vessels, and to building a close relationship for the long-term.”

The port development project is Toyota Tsusho’s first such project in the African nation and commenced in early 2019. The company has, however, a long history in Angola, having exported its cars to the country since 1966.

The project includes, amongst other measures, the expansion of the Namibe container terminal and the construction of a new terminal. This will allow larger vessels to call at the port, thereby diversifying the materials it can handle. As a result, the port development project is anticipated to provide wider employment opportunities in Angola, while also providing the country with full independence in import activities, reducing the costs of freight transportation and boosting the national economy.