New tug launched for UAE’s Saqr Port

A new ASD tug for Saqr Port, part of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Ports, has been launched at the Albwardy Damen shipyard in Sharjah, UAE.

Ordered twelve months ago, the tug will join the RAK Ports tug fleet and operate in the new and impressive deep-water bulk terminal currently nearing completion at the port. There, its 80-tonnes of bollard pull will provide additional power for manoeuvring Capesize vessels.

Saqr Port is the major bulk-handing port in the Middle East and a vital part of the regional economy. Located at the foot of the Hajar Mountains, it serves the fast-growing quarry industry in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, from where each year 55 million tonnes of bulk materials are exported through the port to countries around the Arabian Gulf.

The proximity of the Hajar Mountains also brings challenges in the form of powerful winds that can sweep across the port with little or no warning. In addition to its power, the 29-metre tug also features high freeboard and a raised quarterdeck for safe operations in rough seas.