Driven largely by high levels of activity in the world-wide tug business, the company has capitalised on the success of its custom high-performance tug designs and introduction of the new 'RAmparts' Series of Azimuthing Stern Drive (ASD) tug designs to the world market.

The 'RAmparts' designs are based on a modular approach to design and construction, with the intention of bringing the best performing tug designs to a broader market, at a more competitive price than one-off custom built vessels. These designs are primarily aimed at smaller shipyards, without experienced design staff, that wish to offer high-quality adaptable designs in competition with the more 'standard' serial built products currently on offer.

The first RAmparts 2400 class tug went into service last year with the Lyttelton Port Company Ltd of New Zealand bearing the name Blackadder (see Maritime Journal November 2002). RAL currently has orders for nine tugs of the RAmparts type either under design or construction in various parts of the world.

Two RAmparts 2500 series with a 50 tonnes bollard pull are destined for owners in the USA and six larger RAmparts 3000 type with a 55 tonnes bollard pull are on order, one in the USA and four in Brazil. A single Ramparts 3200 vessel, of 32m and 65 tonnes bollard pull is to be built in Turkey. A number of other enquiries are being processed for tugs of the RAmparts series from 22 to 35 metres in length.