On 14 December 2023 the commissioning ceremony took place of two, next-generation, Damen ASD Tugs 2813 delivered by Damen Shipyards to the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).
Named Capt. Edward A. A. Awuviri and Nestor Percy Galley after two former Director Generals, these additions to the GPHA fleet deliver 83 tonnes bollard pull ahead and up to 77 tonnes astern.
This makes them ideal for manoeuvring the range of large vessels that use the Ghanaian ports of Takoradi and Tema, two of the largest in West Africa, as well as other supporting activities.
The vessels were built at Damen’s dedicated tug building facility Damen Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam. In addition to the comprehensive standard specification, they have also been equipped with fire-fighting equipment and oil spill response capability.
Damen has a long and productive history of working with ports on Africa’s west coast together with its local partner Krane International Limited.
Its relationship with GPHA goes back over 20 years and the group maintains a full-time service hub in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, to support its customers and the wider maritime community.
As part of the package for GPHA, Damen is also providing training at its Gorinchem headquarters for not only the vessels’ masters and crew, but also the shoreside technicians and engineers who will maintain the tugs.
