Sanmar Shipyards has delivered NICO, a powerful and versatile new tug designed for both harbour ship-handling and towing operations, to long-standing German operator H. Schramm Towage.
The latest delivery is the seventh SANMAR-built tug to join the H. Schramm Towage fleet, continuing a relationship between the two companies that dates back to 2005 and reflecting the operator's continued confidence in SANMAR's tug-building expertise.
Known as DELICAY XVIII during construction in Türkiye, the tug has been renamed NICO by H. Schramm Towage and will join the company’s tug fleet, supporting a wide range of towage and ship-handling operations in German ports and coastal waters.
NICO is based on the TRAktor-Z 2500SX design, developed exclusively for SANMAR by internationally renowned Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd. Powered by two CAT 3516E main engines, each producing 2,350 kW at 1,800 rpm and fully compliant with IMO Tier III emissions standards, the tug combines high performance with advanced environmental credentials.
Designed to perform a wide range of duties, from harbour ship-handling to towing operations, NICO delivers 80 tonnes of bollard pull and achieves a free-running speed of 12.5 knots, providing the power and versatility required for demanding operations.
The highly efficient twin Z-drive tug, configured as a tractor tug, has an overall length of 25.3 metres, a moulded beam of 12 metres and a least moulded depth of 4.55 metres. NICO is also equipped with FiFi 1 firefighting capability and provides accommodation for a crew of up to six.
With NICO joining sister tugs SÖNKE and BO, H. Schramm Towage now operates a trio of sister azimuth tractor tugs from SANMAR's successful DELICAY series. Together, the three tugs demonstrate the proven performance and versatility of the design and H. Schramm Towage's continued confidence in the series.
Commenting on the delivery, Rüçhan Çıvgın, Commercial Director of Sanmar Shipyards, said:
"Our relationship with H. Schramm Towage goes back more than 20 years, and it is a pleasure to see it continue with the delivery of NICO. As a family-owned company with a long maritime heritage, H. Schramm Towage understands the importance of investing for the future. We are proud to support them with technologically advanced, high-performance and environmentally responsible tugboats designed to meet their evolving operational needs."
The contract for NICO was signed at the TugTechnology Conference and Exhibition in Antwerp in May 2025.
Commenting on the delivery, Nico Andritter-Witt, Managing Director of H. Schramm Towage, said:
“We are very pleased to welcome NICO to our fleet. Having already gained excellent experience with her sister vessels SÖNKE and BO, choosing this proven design again was a natural decision for us. Sanmar has been a trusted partner of H. Schramm Towage for more than 20 years, and we highly value the quality of their vessels as well as the close, professional and reliable cooperation between our companies.”
The delivery of NICO further strengthens a relationship spanning more than two decades and demonstrates SANMAR's ability to provide powerful, versatile and environmentally responsible tug solutions tailored to the evolving needs of its customers.
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