Damen to Build ASD Tug 2811 for Aegean Tugs Shipping Co.

Damen Secures Order for Compact, High-Power Harbor Tug

Damen Shipyards Group has finalized an agreement with Aegean Tugs Shipping Company, based in Greece, for the construction of an ASD Tug 2811. According to a report by The Maritime Executive, the shipbuilder’s stock-building programme allows it to offer accelerated delivery timelines, with the vessel already under construction and expected to be handed over in the first quarter of next year.

Vessel Specifications

The ASD Tug 2811 measures roughly 28.57 metres in length with an 11.43-metre beam and delivers 60 tonnes of bollard pull. Damen positions the design as a compact yet powerful solution suited to contemporary port operations, balancing strong manoeuvrability with fuel and operational efficiency. Before handover, the yard will customize the standard design to satisfy the buyer’s operational needs and Greek flag-state requirements, including fitting FiFi 1 firefighting equipment and a dedicated towing winch.

Delivery in Kalymnos

Once complete, the tug will be delivered directly to Kalymnos, in Greece’s Dodecanese island group, which serves as the home port for Aegean Tugs Shipping Company. That regional delivery point underscores how the vessel is intended to support towing and maritime assistance work across Greek and wider Mediterranean waters rather than serve as a one-off asset moved elsewhere.

Company Perspectives

Michael Psarompas, owner and CEO of Argo SA — the parent company overseeing Aegean Tugs Shipping Company — described the ASD Tug 2811 as recognized in the industry for its power, environmental compliance, and handling characteristics. He said the addition would meaningfully strengthen the company’s towing and maritime support capacity and expressed confidence the vessel would operate safely and efficiently across Greek and Mediterranean waters.

Peter Anssems, Damen’s Sales Manager, characterized the order as a reflection of the ongoing trust between the two companies, adding that he expects the relationship to continue developing throughout construction and beyond.

What This Means for Fleet Operators

For owners and operators running mixed-age tug and support fleets in the Mediterranean, this order highlights a broader trend: shipowners increasingly favor standardized, stock-built designs that can be delivered and put into service quickly, rather than waiting years for bespoke newbuilds. A tug of this size and bollard-pull rating is squarely aimed at everyday harbor and coastal towing work, and the addition of FiFi 1 capability suggests the buyer anticipates operating in or near facilities where firefighting support is a contractual or regulatory expectation.

From an inspection and survey standpoint, new tonnage entering service under a modified stock design still requires careful attention during delivery. Buyers taking possession of a customized standard hull should ensure that flag-state modifications, firefighting system installations, and winch integrations are independently verified before acceptance, rather than relying solely on builder assurances. Pre-delivery condition surveys and equipment verification are particularly relevant here, since the vessel’s specification has been altered from the baseline design to meet client and regulatory demands — any gaps between contracted specification and delivered condition are best caught before the tug enters commercial service.

As regional towage operators across the Mediterranean look to modernize aging support fleets, transactions like this one signal continued demand for compact, high-bollard-pull tugs capable of meeting both commercial and environmental compliance expectations in busy port environments.

Reviewed by Ibrahim Halil Ceylan, Marine Surveyor at Apeks Marine.