The Port of Caen/Chamber of Commerce & Industry Caen Normandy (Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Caen Normandie) has placed an order for a Damen ASD Tug 2810. This follows Damen winning a public tender on December 8th, 2015. Caen Normandy Chamber of Commerce & Industry has a port concession in both the Port of Caen Ouistreham and Cherbourg. The new Damen vessel will be deployed in the latter, hence her name Cherbourg 1.

The Port of Caen/Chamber of Commerce & Industry Caen Normandy operates a fleet of four tugs, three in Caen and one in Cherbourg. The main duties of the new tug are the berthing and manoeuvring of ferries and different kinds of vessels that call into Cherbourg and carrying out light offshore duties and dredging assistance. Damen’s ASD 2810 is a versatile design, which is equally suited to typical harbour duties such as mooring and towing, as well as operations in open water. The tug is compact and easy to handle. Port Authority asked Damen to carry out some modifications to the standard ASD 2810 including an aft deck double drum winch, towing pins, stern roller and cargo rails to allow it to carry out offshore jobs such as towing, anchor handling and buoy deployment. With this deck configuration, the tug is the only one of its kind in the area. Including the requested modification Damen was able to accommodate a short delivery time and the new vessel is due to be delivered by the end of August.

The Damen ASD 2810 is equipped with Fire Fighting, which delivers a water spray of 1200 m3/hr. Spacious, modern accommodation is provided for six crewmembers. The propulsion system consists of two Caterpillar 3516C TA HD/C main engines delivering a total power of 3,730 bkW at 1,600 rpm. It is fitted with two Rolls- Royce US 205 azimuth thrusters. Classed under Lloyd’s Register, the 28.67m tug has a beam of 10.43m and a bollard pull ahead of 60 tonnes. The maximum speed, both ahead and astern, is around 13 knots.