Sanmar Shipyards has delivered a new harbour tug to long-standing Bulgarian partner VTC S.A., marking the fifth tugboat delivered to the operator since the two companies began working together in 2003.
TUZLA, TÜRKİYE — Sanmar Shipyards has delivered a new harbour tug to long-standing Bulgarian partner VTC S.A., marking the fifth tugboat delivered to the operator since the two companies began working together in 2003.Renamed KASTRITSI by her new owners, the tug will join VTC’s fleet in the Black Sea port of Varna, where the company has provided towage and marine services since its establishment in 2003.
KASTRITSI is based on the RApport 2500 design from renowned Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd., combining towing performance with the manoeuvrability required for harbour operations.
KASTRITSI is a high-performance shallow-draft Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) tug designed to safely navigate at shallow and confined waterways. Featuring a maximum draught of only 4.20 metres, an overall length of 25.20 metres and a beam of 12.00 metres, the vessel generates an impressive ahead bollard pull exceeding 50 tonnes and reaches speeds up to 12.0 knots. In addition to its shallow-water ASD agility, the vessel incorporates complete FiFi-1 fire-fighting capability and comfortable accommodation for a six-person crew.
SANMAR’s relationship with VTC dates back to the Bulgarian operator’s establishment in 2003, when SANMAR supplied its first three newbuild twin-screw tugs, SANMAR XII, SANMAR XIII and SANMAR XIV. The partnership continued in 2018 with the delivery of TICHA, a more powerful tug based on the exclusive-to-SANMAR RApport 1600SX design from Robert Allan Ltd.
Cem Seven, Chairman of Sanmar Shipyards, said:
“We have been working with VTC since the very beginning of its operations in 2003, and we are proud of the relationship we have built over more than two decades. The delivery of KASTRITSI marks another important step in our cooperation, and we are delighted to see her join the VTC fleet in Varna.”
Rosen Chernaev, Executive Director of VTC S.A., said:
“We are very pleased to welcome KASTRITSI to our fleet.
This state-of-art tugboat built by Sanmar marks another significant milestone in the successful partnership between our companies, which has been going on for more than 20 years. The fifth tugboat built for VTC has once again confirmedthe high quality of Sanmar’s production, as well as the professionalism and excellent cooperation of the Sanmar team throughout the entire design and construction process.
KASTRITSI aims to expand the capabilities of the VTC fleet and meet the growing demands in the provision of towage services at the Port of Varna.”
About Sanmar Shipyards
With a proud history of 50 years in tugboat building, Sanmar Shipyards is a world-renowned tug and workboat builder based in Türkiye, specialising in high-performance, technologically advanced and environmentally responsible vessels. SANMAR serves the global towage industry with a strong focus on innovation, sustainability, safety and operational excellence.
About VTC S.A.
VTC S.A. is a Bulgarian provider of harbour towage and marine services operating in the ports of Varna and Balchik. Its services include vessel assistance, berthing and unberthing, mooring, coastal and offshore towage, and emergency response. The company focuses on service quality, well-maintained tugboats and crew safety
