Just over a year ago, when Volvo Penta extended its product programme in the marine commercial range to include new, large diesel engines with outputs of up to 1,700kW, the aim was to offer engines for larger vessels than before. This was to include main propulsion and auxiliary engines.Volvo Penta Project Manager for the large marine diesel programme, Bertil Borjesson explains; 'More and more of the players in this industry are choosing to work with engine suppliers who can offer them turn-key solutions.

We shall be delivering engines for propulsion, generators and fire pumps for these three tugs and will also be delivering the entire propulsion system, including the thrusters, for the first boat to be built. This order is an excellent illustration of what we can achieve with our new and more extensive product programme in the marine commercial market'.

The multi-purpose fire fighting tugs will be stationed in Yuzhny in the Odessa region of southern Ukraine and one of the most important ports on the Black Sea.

Chernomorsky Shipbuilding in Nikolayev, Ukraine, one of Europe's largest shipyards, is constructing the first of the new vessels. Volvo Penta engines for that tug, due to be completed during the first half of 2002, were delivered at the end of January. The other two vessels will be completed before the end of 2002.

All three tugs will be 31.6m loa, with a beam of 9.7m and draft of 3.1m, and will be classed by the Russian RMOS.

When completed the tugs will have a bollard pull of 45 tonnes and a free running speed of 12 knots.