Fortescue Metals Group's Pilbara Marine has ordered six tugs from Damen Shipyards for operations at Port Hedland in Australia.

The Dutch shipbuilder said the 32-metre Rotor ships will be built at its Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam.

The first two are scheduled for delivery by the end of October 2018, with the remaining four due in early 2019.

They will feature three azimuth thrusters and have a bollard pull of 85 tonnes.

In