Kongsberg Maritime has signed an Extended Thruster Coverage (ETC) agreement with KOTUG International to provide long-term propulsion service support for five newbuild Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) tugs. The vessels are being deployed for offshore terminal operations, in West Africa.
The five vessels share a common configuration and will be treated as a single fleet under the agreement. Each tug is equipped with two US255 fixed pitch thrusters supplied by Kongsberg Maritime. The ETC agreement will establish a structured lifecycle support framework.
Extended Thruster Coverage is Kongsberg Maritime’s long-term service concept designed to deliver maximum thruster reliability, availability, and cost predictability throughout the contract period. It is built on an OEM-defined preventive maintenance plan, with condition monitoring applied as a predictive layer. This enables maintenance and component replacement to be based on actual equipment condition, reducing the risk of unplanned downtime and supporting stable, cost-controlled operations at a fixed annual fee.
Since its introduction, the ETC programme has built credibility across the maritime industry, demonstrating its ability to raise maintenance standards and reduce operational risk for all vessels operating with Kongsberg Maritime thrusters.
Morten Steffens, Head of Aftermarket Sales, Maintenance, Repair & Operations, Kongsberg Maritime, said: “We are pleased to be supporting KOTUG International on this fleet of LNG terminal tugs. These are demanding operational environments where reliability and availability are critical, and ETC is designed precisely to deliver that. This agreement demonstrates that the model is proving its value and that the concept gains traction in the broader maritime industry to enhance cost control and predictability.”
Marcel van Meel, Corporate Technical Manager, KOTUG International: Our customers depend on us to deliver safe, reliable, and uninterrupted operations every day. This agreement with Kongsberg Maritime supports that commitment by providing a proactive maintenance approach that maximises vessel availability and reduces operational risk. It is an important step in ensuring the long-term performance of this fleet. “KOTUG International is an established operator in the global towage market. With the company now operating ASD vessels fitted with Kongsberg Maritime thrusters, the ETC agreement represents the start of a structured long-term service relationship between the two organisations.
About Kongsberg Maritime
Kongsberg Maritime is a global leader in maritime technology.
We deliver advanced solutions to the merchant fleet, offshore, fishing, and naval vessels, setting new standards for safe, efficient, and sustainable operations – both for new builds and existing fleets. In close collaboration with customers and research environments, we develop technology that solves real challenges at sea.
Today, more than 30,000 vessels operate with our systems on board.
Kongsberg Maritime has more than 8,300 employees in 35 countries.
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About KOTUG
KOTUG is a leading maritime family-owned company, offering its innovative towage and maritime related services on a global scale. KOTUG is firmly committed to the highest industry standards of health, safety, environment, quality, and security. Adding value by sustainability-focused innovations, KOTUG provides the complete portfolio based on a combination of long-standing
knowledge and advanced technologies. This includes designing, building, chartering, and operating vessels, training personnel, providing innovative consultancy services, and offering comprehensive procurement and logistics solutions on a worldwide scale. The company’s expertise is divided across five pillars: Towage, Training & Consultancy, Intelligence, Subsea and Maritime Excellence.
KOTUG is active in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, Middle East, North and South America and the Caribbean and continues to expand its operations worldwide.
Web: www.kotug.com
linkedin.com/kotug-international