Posted on April 1, 2021
This month’s review covers tug deliveries and orders from European shipyards and a series of newbuildings from an Ohio USA-based yard with European connections.
Med Marine is well established as a tug builder but also operates its own fleet and the Turkish yard recently transferred an ASD tug from its own fleet to Chilean multinational company SAAM Towage for operation in Ecuador. SAAM Tarqui was built in 2016 as Efesan Port, a MED-2575 class tug based on Robert Allan Ltd’s RAmparts 2500W design and follows Med Marine’s delivery of the MED-A2360 class SAAM Itza to the same owner a year ago with another MED-2575 about to be sent to the region.
Med Marine offers 60, 70 and 75 tonne bollard pull versions of the marque and SAAM Tarqui provides 70tbp via Wärtsilä main engines (3,600kW total) and Kongsberg thrusters. The RINA-classed, fifi1 equipped tug has DMT towing winches forward and aft along with a Mampaey towing hook.
Great Lakes Shipyard is around halfway through a ten-vessel order for sister company Great Lakes Towing under the terms of a licensing agreement with Damen Shipyards whereby the Cleveland, Ohio-based shipyard is exclusive builder of the Stan Tug 1907 ICE in the US.
The new tugs are replacing existing vessels being retired from Great Lakes’ fleet as part of a modernisation programme in response to USCG Subchapter M regulations and will operate throughout the Great Lakes and up into the St Lawrence Seaway. Five of the ten are currently listed: Cleveland, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, operated by two-man crews. The 30tbp tugs have hybrid propulsion systems via Canal Marine designed Logan FlexaDrive power systems and operate on electric power while idling, underway at low speeds or under low loads. Main engines are MTU Tier III, 1,000hp diesels, Great Lakes stating: ‘The tugs’ compact size and high manoeuvrability makes them ideal for the narrow waterways and low bridges that characterise harbour towing on the Great Lakes.’
It was in June 2018 that you correspondent along with MJ’s editor inspected the first example of Damen’s ‘next generation’ RSD Tug 2513 Innovation at Southampton during its European showcase tour. This opportunity for prospective clients to see the tug in action has been credited with the order and subsequent delivery of Senglea the ninth named vessel (out of 12) in the series bearing yard number 515011 to Tug Malta, part of the Rimorchiatori Riuniti Group.
Senglea features Damen Triton, a digitalised remote monitoring system that collects data including fuel, oil and water levels along with performance indicators such as power, RPM and fuel consumption from sensors throughout the vessel. Tug Malta’s new fifi1-equipped addition provides 80tbp and is fully compliant with local Maltese regulations.
Turning now to orders and staying with Damen, in 2005 Ports of Jersey took delivery of the Shoalbuster 2709 Duke of Normandy. Following 15 years of service Damen has again been selected to supply a slightly larger Shoalbuster 2711 on the back of expanding requirements including supporting forthcoming windfarm projects in nearby UK and EU waters.
Ports of Jersey selected this particular Shoalbuster design at Seawork Exhibition in Southampton where the first of class, now Ems Tug for German principles was on display. The 2711 is an evolved version of the 2709 where the additional two metres beam will provide extra stability, workspace, storage and space for a larger (Heila) crane. It will offer 40tbp and is due for delivery in Q4 this year.
Shipbuilder Chantiers Piriou offers a variety of tugs, including its own in-house designs and an interesting such reference has been reported with the order for a 16m, conventional twin-screw harbour tug for Société Coopérative des Lamaneurs of Brest and Roscoff harbours.
To be built at Piriou’s Vietnam facilities, the 15tbp tug is adapted to the client’s requirements and specified for harbour towing operations over the stern, alongside and in push mode together with deepsea towing from astern. MLC 2006-compliant accommodation is at main deck level and the vessel is equipped with ‘a new generation motorisation’ compliant with IMO Tier III regulations, other characteristics include: length 16.5m, breadth 6.56m, maximum draught 2.5m, fuel oil capacity 15m3 and propulsion from two 440kW engines with a bow thruster. Delivery is scheduled for August 2021 and it will be home-ported in Concarneau.
By Peter Barker
