Posted on July 1, 2020
Despite Covid-19 disruptions, this month’s look at the world of tug construction has news of no fewer than 32 vessels either delivered or recently ordered.
If the order of reporting is determined by significance, Piriou’s contract to supply twenty 30tbp tugs to the French Defence Procurement Agency would win the prize. The order comprises 15 harbour and five harbour/coastal tugs for naval bases at: Toulon, Brest, Cherbourg, Fort de France and Papeete. To be built at Concarneau with project management by Piriou’s JV partner KERSHIP, construction is due to begin before the end of 2020 with four deliveries per year from summer 2022.
Updating a previous delivery report, the world’s first Advanced Variable Drive hybrid tug, the 70tbp Bogacay XXXVIII is reported by Sanmar to have “performed admirably alongside her diesel mechanical sisters in the Izmit Bay fleet.”
Sanmar also reports three of the five vessel order for Svitzer at Port of Sohar have been delivered. Ordered as part of a 15-year renewal of Svitzer’s Sohar operation, the package comprises three Bigaçay class RAstar 2900SX and two Sirapinar class RAmparts 2200SX tugs.
Following delivery of the Sirapinar class pair Svitzer Barka and Svitzer Liwa, the first Bigaçay class Svitzer Sohar is now in service. Slightly larger than the former pair the RAstar 2900SX design features a sponsoned hull enhancing escort towing and seakeeping performance. Caterpillar main engines develop 5,050kW in total powering Kongsberg US255FP thrusters delivering 80+tbp.
Firefighting, pollution response, support and salvage is also listed in its capabilities with a DMT escort winch forward and one of the three is to include an aft towing winch.
Returning to Piriou, its Vietnam facility recently delivered VB Longchamp and VB Guardian to Boluda France for operation in Le Havre. Shipped to the Netherlands by heavylift vessel they are the final pair of a six-vessel order for Boluda by Piriou following VB Concorde and VB Mirage (Boluda Nantes Saint Nazaire) and VB Acheron and VB Surprise (Boluda Marseille Fos).
Piriou’s OST 30 Omni Stern Tug designs are capable of both harbour and deepsea operations with a hull length of 30.3m, bollard pull 75t and speed 13kn. A double-drum escort winch is provided forward with towing and tugger winch for deepsea towage aft.
Still with Europe-based builders, Damen recently delivered the Multi Cat 1908 Patricia Matheson to Isle of Mull, Scotland-based workboat operator Inverlussa Marine Services. It is the company’s first Damen-built vessel and will operate in the aquaculture sector. Modifications from standard specifications include positioning of the capstan, cranes and manoeuvring stands along with changes to the accommodation and an additional generator to serve the aquaculture industry.
Robert Allan Ltd has reported delivery of the RApport 2500 tug Hercules, a marque that has been a US West Coast standard for nearly 20 years. This new addition for Crowley Maritime is a product of Diversified Marine Inc of Portland, Oregon and described as “a compact, flush-decked and cost-effective ASD tug developed specifically for ship assist work in busy harbours.”
Providing “a new standard for elegant simplicity in design” the 24.99m LOA vessel supplies a respectable 89tbp from Caterpillar main engines driving MT627 thrusters with 2.7m diameter fixed-pitch propellers.
Staying in the US, McAllister Towing has welcomed a new family member of note in the 6,770hp Tier IV Z-drive tug Eileen McAllister. To be based at Port Everglades, the 84tbp tug was built by Washburn & Doughty and becomes the 34th tractor tug in McAllister’s fleet.
Finally, news of a recent order from the Southern Hemisphere involves a pair of tugs for South Africa’s Transnet National Ports Authority from the ways of Cape Town-based Veecraft Custom Commercial Craft.
With the regular reporting of tugs powered by azimuthing or cycloidal thrusters it is a change to report a tug of conventional design involving Cummins 2,000hp K38 main engines driving Teignbridge five-bladed propellers through ZF 2750 gearboxes fitted with a trolling-valve to allow slow speed precision manoeuvring.
Of modest dimensions, the 19.3m pair will deliver 15tbp and speeds in excess of 10kn with a towing bollard and hook aft. Accommodation is provided for up to six persons and with a fuel capacity of 28m3 and water capacity 10m3 they will have a wide range of responsibilities including towage and pilotage duties.
By Peter Barker
Source: maritimejournal
