Iskes Towing & Salvage has taken delivery of a Damen ASD 3212 tug named Mercurius. To date the Netherlands-based tug operator’s fleet now includes three Damen builds, all built in the last four years. “We used the same leasing option (with Damen) with the Argus,” said Ronald Vergouwen, MD, Iskes Towing & Salvage. “After 18 months we bought the vessel outright. The financing process takes much longer than in the past. Making a quick purchase, which is sometimes needed to pursue an opportunity, is almost impossible. In the present economic climate, Damen's lease option makes it easier and faster for us to expand our fleet.”
Since its deliver the tug Mercurius has been operating under charter at the Port of Rotterdam. “The Mercurius does what it has to do,” said Dirk Martens, Technical Manager, Iskes Towage & Salvage, in describing the new 82t bollard pull tug. “That’s the big advantage with Damen’s design – there are no surprises.” To assure Iskes of a fast delivery, the worldwide Damen network came into play with the majority of fabrication taking place at Damen Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam.
“We had the opportunity for an earlier transport to the Netherlands so we decided to finish the tug at Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam,” said Damen Sales Director Benelux Mijndert Wiesenekker. By completing construction at Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam (part of the Damen Shipyards Group), the delivery time was significantly reduced.