The new Carlo Magno, built to a Rolls-Royce Marine UT514L design, is described by the owners as a 'multi-functional anchor-handling tug and salvage vessel'. Built by Cantieri Navale Rosetti Marino Spa in Ravenna, the 55.4m long tug follows a familiar UT configuration and has a breadth of 15.5m and design draft of 5.20m. It meets the RINA class requirements for C+supply vessel; tug; salvage tug; fire fighting ship 1 - with water spray.

Carlo Magno is a twin screw vessel powered by two Wartsila 8L32 engines rated 4,000kW each at 750rpm (approx 10,870 bhp), capable of running on gasoil or heavy fuel oil for maximum economy. Each main engine is coupled to a 3.6m controllable pitch propeller rotating within a fixed nozzle.

Each main engine is also coupled, via the main propulsion gearboxes, to a 1,250kVA shaft generator. A further power takeoff at the front end of each engine is coupled to the fire pumps for the external FiFi 1 system. Two diesel driven auxiliary generators are installed, an emergency alternator of 88kVA and a harbour set rated at 187kVA. The latter is required to provide electrical power for the ship when the main engines and shaft generators are not in operation. Ulstein 'high-lift flap' rudders are installed and manoeuvrability is enhanced further with the installation of two electrically powered Ulstein TT 1300 DPN-CP transverse bow thrusters.

Extensive trials were held, including four days of sea trials and bollard pull tests at Rijeka, to confirm the tug's true performance, which the owners considered of the utmost importance. Augustea has expressed their satisfaction with the resulting figures, which confirmed those derived from earlier tank testing in the Trondheim Model Basin. The bollard pull figures certified by RINA give a bollard pull of 152.76 tons at MCR and 170.87 tons on overload. A maximum speed of 15.5 knots was achieved at MCR with a trial draft of 4.8m.

Carlo Magno weighs 1,400dwt and has tank capacity for 140m 3of ballast water, 150m 3of fresh water, 1,250m 3of heavy fuel oil and 250m 3of marine gasoil. The cargo deck area is 300m 2and the maximum weight of deck cargo is 500 tons.

A single Braatvag twin drum, waterfall style winch Type SL 120W-BSL 120W is fitted for towing and anchor handling.

Both drums have a brake holding capacity of 300 tons (on the first layer) and can accommodate 1,200m of 64mm diameter steel wire rope. A single set of line handling gear is installed on the centreline forward of a relatively narrow stern roller.

The new tug will normally sail with a crew of twelve persons but fully air conditioned accommodation, fitted out to the highest European standards, is provided for a total of 24 people in 14 cabins varying in size and capacity.

Carlo Magno was handed over in March and sailed immediately to carry out an assignment off the coast of West Africa, after which it is scheduled to tow a barge to the Netherlands.