Boluda Towage welcomes two new tugs: VB Fado & VB Likurai

Piriou has delivered to Boluda Towage two new units to be assigned to East Timor. Built by Piriou Vietnam, the ‘VB LIKURAI’ and the ‘VB FADO’ left the Nha Be site and arrived at their place of operation in Asia.

These two 30.30 metre tugs which have a bollard pull of 45 tonnes and 60 tonnes respectively, have been built to a Piriou standard design and adapted to meet the specific needs of Boluda Towage.

They are particularly manoeuvrable and meet the latest safety and performance requirements, providing our customers with solutions adapted to their operational imperatives.

Piriou already built and delivered a first series of eight tugs with 70 tonnes bollard pull to Boluda Towage between 2007 and 2009, followed by a new series of six tugs built by its Vietnamese subsidiary between 2015 and 2017, and finally a third series of six 75 tonnes bollard pull units between 2019 et 2020.

Vincent Faujour, Chairman of the PIRIOU Group stated: ’We are very pleased with this new demonstration of Boluda Towage's confidence with this contract for two new OST30, designed by Piriou. The special aspect of this delivery resides in the fact that this is the first time that we have delivered units to Boluda Towage for a place of operation other than mainland France or its overseas territories.

Denis Monserand, General Manager of Boluda Towage France, added: "These two new tugs are destined for our first base in Asia, in East Timor, which is the fruit of a partnership with the Bollore group. Through this long-term project we are taking part in the global expansion of the Boluda Towage Division. We would like to thank Piriou for its support in this new adventure".

Multipurpose harbour and coastal ASD tugs

These units are issued from the OST 30-Omni Stern Tug- model of the tugs range designed by Piriou. The OST 30 is a multipurpose tug developed for ‘push pull’ type towage and harbour assistance operations as well as deep sea operations. With a hull length of 30.3 metres, it is also fitted to bring assistance to vessels in access channels.

This tug is equipped with two aft azimuth propellers (Azimuth Stern Drive), driven by two marine medium-speed turbocharged four-stroke diesel engines, fresh-water cooled with box cooler refrigerants. At the bridge, the ergonomics of the single-command control station and the high visibility over the entire working area and its surroundings allow the captain to manoeuvre his tug alone.

In order to answer the operating conditions required by Boluda Towage, these tugs are equipped with several options including:

• Double drum fore winch
• Bow thruster
• A towing hook

The 60 T model is also equipped with:

• Fi-Fi 1 equipment for fire fighting
• Aft towing winch
• An open bulwark with a stern roller

The OST 30 is designed to be maintained every five years with special antifouling and ICAF system. Accommodation is in accordance with ILO 2006 requirements and special attention is paid to noise reduction.

More info: boludafrance.com / boluda.com.es