DSB Offshore has been pleased to assist the Portland Harbour Authority with the sale of their ASD tug ‘Rufus Castle’. Built in 2005 at the Beng Bu Shen Zhou Shipyard in China she has a length of 28m and a designed bollard pull of 50T provided by Schottel SRP1010 FR propulsion and Yanmar 8N21A engines. The tug has spent most of her life in the UK, firstly with SMS Towage and more recently on the South coast as one of a three-tug fleet operating in Portland.

Portland Port is one of the world’s largest man-made harbours, attracting a diverse range of visiting vessels. Earlier this year a £26m investment into the replacement and extension of a deep water berth was completed which now allows two 350m long cruise ships to be berthed simultaneously. As part of the push towards decarbonisation, the port has continued to modernise its tug fleet. Later this year they will be welcoming a newbuild to replace the Rufus Castle which not only satisfies the UK workboat code by being under 24m and under 200GRT, but will also utilise clean technology to minimise emissions.

We wish the Rufus Castle well as she moves to her new home in the Mediterranean later this summer.