Damen Build Terminal Tugs for Sonasurf
01 Dec 2003
An important recent delivery from Damen Shipyards Gorinchem yard was a series of three terminal tugs for the French company Sonasurf , for use in Angola. Completed in July, August and November, the vessels were named Kakulo , Nemed and Aeger, respectively. This latest trio follows three almost identical tugs built for the company between 1998 and 2001. The tugs are of the well-established ASD 3211 design capable of shiphandling, escorting, fire-fighting and pollution control duties.
The hull design is optimised for a good stern-first and indirect towing performance and incorporates a long box keel, a heavily fendered bow and open stern. Each vessel is 32.22m in length overall, with a beam of 11.70m and draft (aft) of 5.27m.
Two Rolls Royce Bergen KRMB-9 main engines, run at 900 rev/min (MCR) to produce a total of 5445 bhp. Power is transmitted to a pair of Rolls Royce Aquamaster US 255 propulsion units via Twin Disc MCD 3000 6HD slipping clutch units. Two Caterpillar 3304B T diesels driving 106kVA alternators supply electrical power. On trials the tugs achieved a bollard pull ahead of 69 tonnes, 64 tonnes pulling astern and an almost equal free running speed ahead and astern of just over 13 knots.
A Kraaijeveld twin drum towing winch of the foredeck has a maximum brake load of 150 tonnes and a line pull of 30 tonnes mm and is used for shiphandling. A towing winch from the same manufacturer is installed on the after deck for towing at sea.
The latter has a brake load of 110 tonnes, and carries a steel wire towline. A small 5 tonne tugger winch and quick release Mampaey tow hook are also fitted. The fire fighting and self protection dousing system is supplied by a pair of Nijhuis HGTF1 250-500 fire pumps, each with a capacity of 1350m 3/hour, coupled to the main engines. Two remotely controlled Ajax fire monitors rated at 1200m 3/hour are mounted on a platform between the exhaust uptakes.
Fully air-conditioned accommodation is configured for up to ten persons, in five cabins, and includes the usual galley, mess room, storage and sanitary facilities. In the wheelhouse communications equipment is fitted to GMDSS Area 3 standards and navigational equipment for worldwide use.
Almost immediately after completing trials, the last vessel of the trio was sold by Sonasurf to a Danish operator.
Minor changes were made by Damen to equipment and paintwork prior to redelivery to the new owner. Pyrrhos, the first vessel to be built for Sonasurf in 1998 was recently returned to the Netherlands for modifications and is now in service with associate company 'Les Abeilles International' in Dunkirk bearing the new name Intrepide.
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