On 3 July, at a shipyard in Sharjah, UAE, a ceremony marked the arrival of one of the newest members of the BESIX marine fleet: meet Isabel.
Like many vessels before her, the tugboat received a name with a personal story behind it. Isabel was named after the daughter of our colleague Bram Van Olffen, Technical Director at BESIX Middle East, who proudly attended the delivery ceremony with his family. In a touching moment, young Isabel officially inaugurated the vessel by cutting the ceremonial ribbon herself.
The photos give you a closer look at Isabel’s powerful engines, now ready for service; the pilot cabin, from which future marine operations will be coordinated; and the crew facilities that will support her five-person operating crew during deployments: one Captain, one Chief Officer, one Chief Engineer and two Seamen.
Why is this a good investment?
Tugboats may not always attract the same attention as our launching girders or jack-up barges, yet they play a vital role in all our marine construction projects. They tow and position barges, support offshore operations and help maintain precise positioning during complex construction activities. In many respects, they are the unseen workhorses that keep our marine projects moving.
“For us, growing our fleet is a deliberate choice. When we own and operate our own marine assets, we have more flexibility, better control over our operations, and we can mobilise faster when a project needs us. Isabel will support the kind of work we do every day in marine construction, from jetties and quay walls to terminals and other coastal infrastructure.” – Bram Van Olffen
For now, Isabel is moored at Damen Shipyard in Sharjah Hamriyah, ready for mobilisation. Following delivery, she will head to the Mozambique LNG marine, our most important marine project to date. And one thing is certain: Isabel is ready to play her part.
Fair winds and following seas, Isabel!