Familiarization of New ASD 2312 Tugs – Dubai, UAE
Dubai was on the schedule — right in the middle of summer, with temperatures reaching up to 43°C.
I was asked to carry out familiarization for two newly delivered ASD 2312 tugs, “Mihaiz” and “Al Wasl 3”. The local crew was enthusiastic about the new vessels and eager to learn. On the final day, we even performed some live towing operations as part of the training.
A third, similar tug had also been delivered to DryDocks World, a separate company in Dubai. They too required familiarization, so i was able to support both clients during the same visit — two birds with one stone.
Fortunately, there was also a bit of time for sightseeing. The local manager kindly gave me a tour of the Damen Sharjah Shipyard, which was a great opportunity to see more of Damen’s operations in the region.
Despite the heat, it was a rewarding and enjoyable project to be part of.
