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TWO NEW TUGBOATS TO STRENGTHEN THE OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES OF THE PORT OF ABIDJAN

TWO NEW TUGBOATS TO STRENGTHEN THE OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES OF THE PORT OF ABIDJAN

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TWO NEW TUGBOATS TO STRENGTHEN THE OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES OF THE PORT OF ABIDJAN

Monday 20 July 2026

 

The Abidjan Port Authority has reached a new milestone in its drive to modernize and strengthen its operational capacities.

On Tuesday, May 5, 2026, the Abidjan port platform hosted the official presentation ceremony of two latest-generation tugboats, at a time marked by strong growth in maritime traffic and the arrival of increasingly larger vessels, particularly new-generation container ships.

The ceremony was attended by several authorities from the maritime and port sectors, including Colonel Emmanuel Yao COFFI, Director of Maritime Operations, Security and Environment of the Abidjan Port Authority (PAA), representing Mr. Kassoum TRAORÉ, Acting Managing Director of PAA; Mr. Philippe COUDRAY, Operations Director of the BOLUDA Towage Group, representing its Chief Executive Officer; and Mrs. Asta Rosa CISSÉ, Regional Director of Africa Global Logistics (AGL).

Acquired by the Ivorian Towing and Salvage Company (IRES), a subsidiary of BOLUDA Towage, these two ASD-type tugboats, named VB KUDU and VB NYALA, were built in 2025 by the Dutch group Damen Shipyards Group, a global benchmark in shipbuilding.

Measuring 22.81 metres in length and generating 3,806 kW of power, these units have a bollard pull capacity of 70 tonnes. Their performance will enable large vessels to be attended with greater precision, reduce risks associated with port manoeuvres, and improve the fluidity of berthing and departure operations. They therefore constitute a major asset for securing and optimizing maritime traffic.

According to the representative of the Acting Managing Director General of PAA, this investment addresses a major strategic challenge, namely maintaining the competitiveness of the Port of Abidjan in an increasingly competitive port environment. These new assets will also help strengthen operational safety, improve the quality of services provided to shipowners, and sustainably support the growth of port activities.

With a fleet now comprising twelve (12) tugboats, including ten (10) based in Abidjan, IRES intends to guarantee permanent assistance to vessels, both day and night.

Beyond the technical aspect, this acquisition reflects BOLUDA Towage’s determination to anticipate changes in global maritime transport, marked by increasing trade volumes and the rapid evolution of international logistics standards.

Through this initiative, the Abidjan Port Authority and BOLUDA Towage reaffirm their shared ambition to make the Port of Abidjan a leading logistics platform on Africa’s Atlantic coast, capable of meeting the growing demands of international maritime trade.