The first of a series of three ASD Tugs 2810 Hybrid has been navigated into the Den Helder harbour by the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN).
The hybrid tug named Noordzee is almost 29 metres long and is the first standard hybrid tug supplied by Damen that the RNLN will employ.
Power and Sustainability
At this time, the RNLN has four conventional tugs in Den Helder at its disposal. However, these older vessels do not have sufficient power to tug new ships such as the HNLMS Karel Doorman, HNLMS Rotterdam and the HNLMS Johan de Witt. Furthermore, the old vessels still make use of normal propellers with rudders with a restricted manoeuvrability and no longer fit the vision of sustainability that the RNLN has for the future.
The ASD Tug 2810 Hybrid is one of Damen’s standard tugs with a hybrid propulsion system. The vessel has two rudder propeller units for optimum manoeuvrability and is able to sail on full electric power by means of a set of batteries and diesel-electric on the generator set. When full pull is required, both main diesel engines are used, giving a maximum bollard pull of 60 tonnes.
Dutch and Swedish Tugs
In total, the RNLN, in cooperation with the Swedish Navy, has ordered five vessels, including the hybrid tugs. The two additional Swedish tugs are also of a standard design, but designed for operations in icy waters.
The Noordzee was sailed by the RNLN from Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania to the port of Den Helder, where it arrived on 20 February. The two other ships, the Waddenzee and Zuiderzee will be delivered in March and June.
