The company 'Boluda' has incorporated two tugboats to the ports of Arrecife, in the capital of Lanzarote, since this month of December. The 'VB Mencey' premieres this Wednesday in the ports of Los Mármoles and Naos, in Arrecife. It joins the 'VB Guanche', which was already operational since the end of 2020, as a result of the tender for the towing service of the Port Authority of Las Palmas approved for all the State ports in the easternmost province of the Canary Islands.
From now on, the large-length and tonnage ships that arrive in the capital of Lanzarote are guaranteed the permanent services of these two tugboats for their maneuvering and docking work at the docks, both in Los Mármoles, Containers or Naos, the latter specializing in tourist cruises.
The mayor of Arrecife, Yonathan de León, attended the official presentation ceremony this Wednesday morning. During his speech, the mayor highlighted that having these services "will make it possible for large tonnage and length ships to dock at the docks, both those dedicated to cabotage and tourism, with greater safety in maneuvers."
The mayor highlighted that "having a safe port is more possible from now on with the works underway (closure of the south dike with the expansion of the dock), to minimize the effects of the southern storms, and the presence of two tugboats that assist the captains of large ships in the maneuvers to dock in the port docks."
The president of the Port Authority of Las Palmas, Beatriz Calzada, has remarked that this demand from the maritime operators has "been covered" and from now on the port of Arrecife has the capacity to avoid "ship diversions."
The CEO of the 'Boluda' group in the Canary Islands, Javier Climent, has detailed to journalists that the needs of Los Mármoles and Naos are "completely" covered. "These two tugboats reduce CO2 emissions by having electrical maintenance systems when they are alongside or docked, which minimizes air pollution."
The group's representative highlighted that "the two tugboats will allow the island to be more attractive to shipping companies and avoid scale cancellations, due to maritime insurance, by having this port of Arrecife tugboat services," as he stated to the news media that have covered this event.
The 'VB Mencey', twin of the 'VB Guanche', has a length of 27 meters and a beam of 9.1, with 198 gross tons and 145 tons of deadweight, and with a traction of 40 tons.
The vice president of the Cabildo, Jacobo Medina, and the Minister of the Presidency, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, were present at this event together with the president of the Chamber of Commerce of Lanzarote and La Graciosa, José Valle, who is part of the Council of the Port Authority.