Alfons Hakans AS, a provider of tugboat services, has signed a contract about two ice class 67-ton bollard pull ASD tugs with Sanmar shipyard in Turkey.
Technical specifications with drawings are done in co-operation with Canadian Robert Allan Ltd, said a press release from the towage operator with decades of regional expertise in Northern Baltic Sea region.
These new-buildings are the first icebreaking escort tugs made for a private actor to arrive in Finland. The design project combines Alfons Håkans’ and Robert Allan Ltd.’s experience of icebreaking, escorting and assistance operations to match and exceed regions best existing tugs’ performance in all these qualities.
"This is a challenging task as just compliance with ice class doesn’t provide required strength and performance. Also combining good icebreaking and true escort performance is like mixing ice and fire, but with excellent co-operation with designer and operator these requirements were met," said Alfons Håkans’ Managing Director Joakim Håkans.
Alfons Håkans is continuously developing its tug fleet. Global trend of merchant vessels getting bigger takes place also in Baltic Sea region and in order to provide best service to its customers, Alfons Håkans has already started to modernize its fleet. In 2018 the fleet was updated by three vessels: with two ASD tugs Pallas and Poseidon and with a conventional icebreaker Hurtig.
The tugs that have now been ordered support the same strategy and are among the largest investments in the history of Alfons Håkans. The new-buildings will develop company’s capacity to operate in a long run, since with the tugs Alfons Håkans can offer its clients safe and reliable service even if the trend of merchant vessels getting bigger continues.
"We have prepared this investment for a long time. Internal process started in 2017 and the contract with Robert Allan Ltd. was signed in Spring 2018. We’ve found optimal solutions to our needs in great co-operation with the designer, manufactures and shipyards. These vessels will also be a good reference to our partners of icebreaking escort tugs," Håkans added.
The tugs will be delivered to Finland in the summer 2020 and will strengthen company’s tug fleet in the Northern Baltic Sea.