en.Wedoany.com Reported - Kongsberg Maritime has signed an Extended Thruster Coverage (ETC) agreement with KOTUG International to provide long-term propulsion system service support for five new azimuthing stern drive (ASD) tugs. These vessels will be deployed for offshore terminal operations in West Africa.

The five tugs feature a uniform configuration, and the agreement manages them as a single fleet. 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 a long-term service concept introduced by Kongsberg Maritime, designed to maximize thruster reliability, availability, and cost predictability over the contract period. The service is based on a preventive maintenance plan defined by the original equipment manufacturer, with condition monitoring serving as a predictive layer, enabling maintenance and component replacement based on actual equipment condition, thereby reducing the risk of unplanned downtime and supporting stable, cost-controllable operations with a fixed annual fee.

Since its launch, the ETC program has established credibility in the maritime industry, demonstrating its ability to improve maintenance standards and reduce operational risks for all vessels equipped with Kongsberg Maritime thrusters.

Morten Steffens, Head of Aftermarket Sales, Maintenance, Repair, and Operations at Kongsberg Maritime, said: "We are delighted to support KOTUG International with this fleet of LNG terminal tugs. These operating environments are demanding, where reliability and availability are critical, and ETC is designed precisely for this. This agreement proves the value of this model, and the concept is gaining recognition across the broader maritime industry to enhance cost control and predictability."

Marcel van Meel, Corporate Technical Manager at KOTUG International, said: "Our customers rely 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 maximizes 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. As the company operates ASD vessels equipped with Kongsberg Maritime thrusters, the ETC agreement marks the beginning of a structured, long-term service relationship between the two organizations.