Sanmar delivers new tug to strengthen Varna port operations

Sanmar Shipyards has delivered a new harbour tug to Bulgarian towage operator VTC S.A., expanding the company’s fleet serving the Black Sea port of Varna.

The vessel, renamed KASTRITSI by its new owner, is the fifth tug supplied by the Turkish shipbuilder to VTC since the two companies established their relationship in 2003. It is intended to support the operator’s harbour towage and marine services in Varna.

Based on the RApport 2500 design developed by Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd., KASTRITSI is an Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) tug designed for manoeuvring in shallow and confined waterways.

The vessel measures 25.20 metres in length and 12 metres in beam, with a maximum draught of 4.20 metres. It provides an ahead bollard pull exceeding 50 tonnes and can reach speeds of up to 12 knots.

The tug is also equipped with FiFi-1 firefighting capability and accommodation for a crew of six, allowing it to support harbour operations and emergency response requirements.

VTC has operated towage and marine services in Varna since its establishment in 2003. Its cooperation with Sanmar began with the delivery of three twin-screw tugs, SANMAR XII, SANMAR XIII and SANMAR XIV.

The partnership continued in 2018 with the delivery of TICHA, a tug based on the RApport 1600SX design. The latest addition brings the total number of Sanmar-built tugs supplied to VTC to five.

Rosen Chernaev, Executive Director of VTC, said the new vessel is intended to expand the company’s fleet capabilities and respond to increasing demand for towage services at the Port of Varna.

The delivery adds another vessel to VTC’s harbour support fleet, although the companies have not specified when KASTRITSI will begin commercial operations.