Abu Dhabi Ports acquires state-of-the-art Damen tug boats to boost Khalifa Port expansion

• DAMEN ASD 2411 tugboats will extend fleet at Khalifa Port, increasing capacity and providing manoeuvre support for vessels
• Tugboats will support the expansion of Khalifa port to accommodate an increase in capacity and larger ships

The purchase of the DAMEN ASD 2411 tugboats was announced at the Abu Dhabi International Boat Show 2018. The contract was signed by Captain Adil Ahmed Banihammad, Acting Chief Marine Services Officer at Safeen, and Pascal Slingerland, Regional Sales Director for Damen Shipyards Group. Delivery of both vessels is due within three months.

Captain Adil Ahmed Banihammad, Acting Chief Marine Services Officer at Abu Dhabi Marine Services – SAFEEN, said: “The extension of our fleet at Khalifa Port with two high-service tugboats is a remarkable milestone for Safeen to address customers’ needs professionally as well as for Khalifa Port, which will be the first port in the GCC able to receive the largest container and shipping vessels in the world. The average size of a vessel has grown by 65 percent due to economies of scale and we recognise the importance of equipping our ports with the right equipment and logistics to adapt to these changing demands.”

Captain Banihammad added: “Khalifa Port is a strategic gateway for trade and freight into Abu Dhabi and throughout the wider region. Our ongoing efforts to develop supportive infrastructure and further enhance overall customer experience here are aligned with international standards and aimed at setting a new benchmark in the region’s maritime industry.”