Kooren Shipbuilding and Trading B.V. (KST) is a well established company which is specifically taking care of the research,
development, construction and sale of tugboats, in particular of the patented and successful Rotor® tug.
The propulsion system of the Rotor® tug can be called revolutionary and the impact on the manoeuvrability of the tug is such that compared to other propulsion systems it’s the better one. Much of the effort being expended in tug design centres on providing a safe, powerful and, above all, economic service to the ever-increasing number of large ships in service. However well designed, the latest generation of massive container ships, VLCC’s, LNG, vehicle and bulk carriers still requires tug assistance at most ports of call. To handle large ships in this way require tugs that are powerful and, above all, safe and agile.
With this in mind Kotug International designed and introduced this type of tug in the port of Bremerhaven. This worldwide-patented concept of three triangular fitted azimuth thrusters, delivering close to 80 tons of bollard pull enabled Kotug to start competitively in the ports of Hamburg, Rotterdam and Bremerhaven. Due to the high bollard pull and manoeuvrability, fewer tugs were needed, consequently giving them an advantage over the competition.
Now a few years later the advantages of the Rotor® tugs are obvious and recognized by the tugboat world. The tug excellent performances in port, at offshore terminals and assisting offshore drilling rigs whilst rig moving, makes her a preferred vessel for these markets. In order to market the vessel’s patented concept of propulsion, Ton Kooren, the inventor of the triangular azimuth propulsion system, decided to start a company named Kooren Shipbuilding and Trading B.V. (KST). This independent company is the holder of the Rotor® tug patent and is constantly developing and improving the concept in close consultation with the Captains and Engineers of the operators who are sailing with these tugs.
KST is continuously looking for ways to improve the Rotor® tug, holding meetings with the tugboat crews, where every small design detail is reviewed. Meanwhile, KST is busy looking for opportunities to exploit the tug's innovatory features in new markets.
KST started building on speculative basis, as the godfather of the Rotor Design Mr Ton Kooren believes that also the present and future tugboat owners/operators in the world should have the opportunity to operate Rotor® tugs in their fleet. This means that KST is flexible and competitive with short delivery times.
KST is not exclusively connected to a shipyard, thus enabling her to select any quality shipyards in close combination with potential clients. KST is able to act on behalf of the client in delivering completed tugboats or operate as a consultant during the designing and building of a purpose built Rotor® tug. Monitoring and assuring the quality required to build a highly sophisticated tugboat like the Rotor® tug during the construction period.
In addition to all the above-mentioned services KST is prepared to look at “trade-in” possibilities, long-term charters and can advise in finance and or “lease buy back guarantees” for the Rotor® tugs and therefore invite you to discuss this and future port or offshore projects in which we would like to participate
