All of the tugs offered by Sanmar are built to designs by Robert Allan of Vancouver and range from small twin screw harbour and coastal vessels to powerful terminal tugs. The company, who are also tug owners in their own right, currently has a fleet of ten vessels with an average age of less than two years. Many of the smaller vessels built by Sanmar are constructed to the company’s own account, operated for a short period, and available for immediate sale in virtually new condition.

Two identical tugs in the latter category, completed late last year, were recently sold to the Scottish company Maritime Craft Services (Clyde) Ltd. Renamed ‘MCS Annie’ and ‘MCS Iris’, the tugs are ‘Dogancay’ class vessels with an overall length of 25.25m, a beam of 8.6m and depth of 4.00m. The tugs are powered by two Caterpillar 3512 TA main engines developing a total of 3,000 bhp, coupled to a pair of two ‘skewed’ LIPS fixed pitch propellers via Reintjes WAF 663 gearboxes. Nautican high efficiency nozzles are fitted and adjacent to each nozzle is a pair of high angle flap rudders. This arrangement produces a highly manoeuvrable vessel with a very useful 42 tons bollard pull and a maximum free running speed of 12.5 knots.

Deck equipment includes a Data Hydraulic towing winch with maximum brake holding load of 90 tons, a capstan and a small stern roller for limited anchor handling operations. Fire fighting equipment is fitted, with a capacity of 400m3/hr at 12 bar and waterspray nozzles are fitted for self protection.

A compact wheelhouse has excellent all round visibility from the helmsman’s chair and an additional control station is provided aft, where the controls for the towing winch and tow pins are situated. Accommodation is available for up to seven persons in four cabins, along with well equipped mess and galley areas, WC and shower facilities.

To date, 15 tugs of this robust yet simple design have been produced and recent examples such as these have benefited from improvements made after several years of operational experience. MCS Annie and MCS Iris have ABS classification and operate under the UK flag and MCA Workboat Code of Practice. Both vessels are currently engaged in towing up to 10,000 dwt rock barges for various projects in the Persian Gulf.

Other completions include the Sanmar Eskort III delivered late last year to Laziali in Italy and renamed ‘Santangelo’ to operate in the Port of Chivitavechia. Santangleo was the third tug of its type to be built for an Italian owner. A fourth, the ‘Al Bateen’, went to Lamnalco.

The Sanmar Eskort class is a highly efficient class of ASD ship-assist/terminal tug based on the Robert Allan Rampart 3200 design and intended for economical series production. Tugs in this series have proved popular for their overall design, manoeuvrability, seakeeping and stability and are equipped for tanker escort service fire-fighting, anchor handling and towing at sea. Vessels in this series are 32m in length, with a beam of 11.6m and maximum draft of 4.79m. Two Wartsila 6L26 main engines are selected as standard to deliver 2,025Kw each (total 5,500 bhp) to power Rolls-Royce US 255CP propulsion units. This gives the tugs a bollard pull of some 70 tons and speed of 14 knots.
Santangelo incorporated modifications designed by Robert Allan Ltd in order to achieve Oil Recovery Capability Class 2 notation. The modifications included building cofferdams between oil recovery tanks and engine room, reworking the piping system and installing connection points for equipment such as oil booms, skimmers and transfer pumps, etc. Ventilation in hazardous areas is achieved by means of explosion-proof fans via steel ducting. Intrinsically safe electrical equipment and a fixed gas detection system have also been installed. These modifications enable the vessel to handle 90m3 of recovered oil. .

Among the tugs on order is an enlarged version of the Sanmar Eskort for Norwegian operators Ostensjo Rederi. Scheduled for delivery in July 2008, the tug will have a beam of approximately 12.6m and be fitted with machinery intended to give it a bollard pull of 85 tons.

Sanmar has signed exclusive contracts with Robert Allan Ltd for two new series of tugboats, the ASD 24/40 and RAmparts 2800 models. More details regarding progress on these new Sanmar products are expected later in the year.