On 15 April, MED MARINE marked the official commencement of construction for three RAmparts 2500-SD tugboats destined for the Romanian Navy, during a steel-cutting ceremony held at MED MARINE’s EREGLI SHIPYARD. The event signified the first physical step in a project that transforms engineering plans into operational naval assets, strengthening maritime capability across the Black Sea.
More than a milestone in shipbuilding, the ceremony signified the formation of vessels designed to operate where precision is not optional but essential. Each tugboat will support naval operations, port assistance, towing duties, and emergency response missions, contributing to a broader framework of maritime capability and preparedness in a region where security at sea carries strategic importance. The RAmparts 2500-SD design combines compact proportions with reliable pulling power, delivering a minimum of 55 tonnes of bollard pull and speeds of up to 12 knots. Engineered for agility and endurance, the vessels are tailored for demanding naval and port operations where precision and responsiveness are essential.
The ceremony was attended by distinguished representatives of the Romanian Navy, including Rear Admiral (LH) Daniil-Nicolae Trica, Captain (Navy) Octavian-Ionut Pitrascu, Commander Viorel Dragan, and Navy Lieutenant Marian Vasile Sava. Delegates from ROMTEHNICA, Mrs. Cristina Daniela Livia Robea and Mrs. Bogdana Paun, were also present, alongside Mr. Paul Galopenta, General Manager of TRIMARIN SRL.
Among the distinguished guests were Rear Admiral Erdinç Yetkin, Commander of Pendik Naval Shipyard, District Gendarmerie Major Emrah Dinar, Coast Guard Commander Lieutenant (JG) Oğuz Yasin Subaşılı, Harbour Master Bülent Eyüpoğlu, Ereğli Deputy Mayor Muharrem Sağlam, Deputy Mayor Çetin Yiğit, and representatives of the Ereğli and Alaplı Chambers of Commerce and Industry, together with other valued participants.
In a time where maritime security across the Black Sea and surrounding waters continues to gain strategic importance, vessels of this nature play a critical role in strengthening operational readiness and coastal resilience. Within this context, MED MARINE’s long-standing expertise in building purpose-driven naval support vessels positions the shipyard as a reliable contributor to modern maritime capability and security architecture in the region.
Speaking at the ceremony, MED MARINE Chairman Mr. Recai Hakan Şen emphasized the broader meaning of the project: “This moment marks the beginning of vessels that will not only serve operational needs but also contribute to maritime safety and the protection of a shared maritime space. Each steel plate cut today reflects a responsibility carried across the Black Sea.”
As the first sparks illuminated MED MARINE’S EREGLI SHIPYARD, the ceremony marked not only the start of construction, but the continuation of a maritime alignment between Türkiye and Romania. With work now underway, the three RAmparts 2500-SD tugboats begin their transformation from steel to service—shaped for waters where preparedness defines stability and capability becomes the foundation of lasting maritime order.
Technical specifications of the tugboats:
Length: 25,40 m
Beam: 11,00 m
Depth: 4,40 m
Draft: 4,90 m
Gross Tonnage: 316
Bollard Pull: min. 55 tons
Speed: min. 12 knots
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