Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) has taken delivery of six new Damen-built Advanced Rotor Tugs 85-32W. The vessels, built at Damen Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam, are named for species of sharks.
The vessels are operating in Port Hedland, Western Australia, world’s busiest bulk port. Through a standard design, Damen is able to customise the tug to meet client requirements. In the case of FMG’s tugs this has included increasing the power from 80 tonnes bollard pull to 85 tonnes. To facilitate the additional power, Robert Allan’s designers also increased the vessels’ beam – from 12.6 metres on the ART 80-32 model to 13.7 metres. Additionally, Damen has outfitted the first two vessels in the series, the FMG Hammerhead and FMG Mako, with FiFi 1 and oil spill recovery capabilities.