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New Voith Tractors for the French Navy
01 Apr 2002
The first of two powerful Voith Schneider propelled tractor tugs is currently nearing completion for the French Navy at the Socarenam shipyard in Boulogne. Esterel, and sistership Luberon, are due for delivery later in the year and will be used to handle the aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle at the Toulon naval base.
The 36m long tugs will be powered by two ABC diesels, each producing 2560bhp, driving twin Voith Schneider 28 GII/210 propulsion units delivering a bollard pull of 50 tonnes. Hulls for Esterel and Luberon were built in five main hull sections at the Socarenam Yard at Calais and then taken to the main works at Boulogne for assembly and completion.
Esterel and Luberon will be the most powerful tugs in French naval service in terms of horsepower, but will have less bollard pull than the existing conventional screw vessels Tenace and Malabar. This order brings the total number of Voith tractor in service with the French navy to 23 and the number operating in the whole of France to 64.
Socarenam has built 90 vessels since it was established some 30 years ago. Among the vessels on building list is included some 15 vessels constructed for the French navy, mainly Voith-Schneider tugs. The company employs some 160 people; 100 at Boulogne, 30 at Calais and 30 at Dunkirk, with ship repairing activities accounting for around 30% of turnover.
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