The growing strength of the "orange fleet" in the Port of Gdansk07.11.2014  The sound of fog-horns that went off in the Port of Gdansk on November 6th, 2014 at 0850 CET heralded the good news. That was the way for the vessels of WUZ Port and Maritime Services Ltd to welcome their new "sister". A new tag boat "VEGA" was moored at the Ziolkowskiego Quay, and upon completion of the formalities she will soon start her service in the port water regions of Gdansk.
As was the case with the purchase by WUZ Port and Maritime Services of the tug boat "AKUL"- the "VEGA" has now returned home. She was built in 2006 by the Marine Projects Ltd in Gdansk to the order placed by the Estonian-Latvian company PKL Flote AS having its registered office in Riga. After several years in service in the port of Tallinn, "VEGA" together with the operator's other property was taken over by a company comprised in the Finnish group Alfons Hakans Oy AB from Turku. Now she is about to change her colours again, and the "orange fleet" will expand its capacity with the acquisition of another robust operating vessel.
 "VEGA" is designed to operate in the harsh conditions of the Northern Baltic Sea. Its modern hull is equipped with two main Aquamaster US 205 thrusters with a total capacity exceeding 2800 horse power. This provides this stocky-shaped tug boat (19 metres in length and 9 metres beam) with an excellent seaworthiness even in ice-bound waters.
In addition to its many technical advantages, "VEGA" ensures yet another operational strength - the fact that she was built by a Polish shipyard and equipped by companies having their branches in Poland provide the Gdansk-based operator with a guarantee of a cost-efficient operation and low-cost repairs. - This acquisition - said Romuald Daszuta, CEO of WUZ Port and Maritime Services in w Gdansk - is part of the company's strategy aiming to find solutions to ensure reliability and high quality of towing services provided in the Port of Gdansk.
 On November 15th, 2013, the Polish flag was ceremonially hoisted on "AKUL" (with a bollard pull of 70 tonnes) - the largest and strongest tug boat owned by WUZ Gdansk. "VEGA" (with a bollard pull of 35 tonnes) will replace the old, well-worn tug boats "ATLAS II" and "HERKULES II". As part of the current modernisation work, WUZ Port and Maritime Services Ltd - established in 1991 upon the privatisation of the Commercial Seaport in Gdansk - will have the fleet of thirteen tug boats at its disposal. The vessels will provide towing services to more than 3,200 carriers - including world's largest container ships - calling annually at the Port of Gdansk.
Janusz Kasprowicz
PGA SA PR Officer
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