Designated a Ramparts 33/65 the vessel is an azimuthing stern drive (ASD) tug equipped for harbour and deep sea towing and carries the classification;

Bureau Veritas Hull, Mach, Tug Unrestricted navigation, AUT-UMS, Ice class B.

Within days of its arrival in Europe this interesting and potentially formidable vessel was operating in the English Channel and at the time of writing was reported on route from the Thames to the Mediterranean towing a floating accommodation unit.

Built by Ocean Industries Inc of Quebec, Stevns Ocean is33.50m in length overall, has a beam of 11.60m and a maximum draft of 5.20m.

The hull has a raised foredeck and the underwater shape is typical of that developed by RAL for ASD vessels - embodying a deep box keel.

Two MAK 6M 25 diesels provide power for propulsion, generating a total of 5027bhp (3700kW). The main engines drive a pair of fully steerable Schottel US 225CP propulsion units incorporating controllable pitch propellers. This arrangement gives the vessel a certified bollard pull of 65 tonnes and a maximum speed of 13.5 knots.

Manoeuvrability in what is undoubtedly an inherently agile vessel is enhanced further with the installation of a 260kW Kamewa bow-thruster with a controllable pitch impeller.

Stevns Ocean has two towing winches, both with a brake holding load of 160 tonnes.

The forward winch is equipped for ship-handling in usual ASD fashion, and the winch on the afterdeck carries a steel wire towline of 52mm diameter, 1000m in length. Other deck equipment includes; a hydraulic deck crane, hydraulic towing pins, a capstan and tugger winch - both electrically driven with a 10 tonne line pull.

Electrical power onboard is supplied by three Volvo powered alternators, two of 200kW and one rated at 100kW. The tug is fitted for fire fighting with two monitors, mounted at wheelhouse roof height, each capable of delivering 350cu/m of water per hour.

Stevns Ocean is equipped to operate in Sea Area A3 and carries a full outfit of navigational and communications gear. Included are two ARPA radars, an autopilot, GPS, DGSP, and a full GMDSS radio installation.