Both tugs will fly the German flag, be classed by Germanischer Lloyd and include a FiFi 1 fire fighting notation. Construction and fitting out will be carried out to the highest standard and embody various advanced features not normally incorporated in tugs.
 The vessels will be 28.20m in length overall, with a maximum beam of 12m and draft of 5.95m. Three ABC –8 DZC main engines will have a minimum rating of 1,700 kW each at 1,000 rpm (approximately 7,000 bhp total). Power will be transmitted to three Schottel SRP 1215 CP fully azimuthing propulsion units incorporating controllable pitch propellers and type19A nozzles.

Each tug will each have a bollard pull of around 80 metric tons. The high bollard pull, exceptional manoeuvring capabilities and comparatively low draft were a decisive factor for URAG when placing this order. URAG has previously employed Voith propelled tractor tugs almost exclusively and only recently took delivery of two new tugs incorporating propulsion units controlled by an advanced new electronic control system.

This is the second order to be placed with Kooren Shipbuilding and Trading for Rotor Tugs of this type by a rival German tug company. In the summer of last year tug owners Bugsier ordered a trio of RT80r vessels (Maritime Journal June 2006) for delivery between November 2007 and mid-2008.

There is some irony in this situation. Kooren’s parent company KOTUG first introduced three Rotor Tugs in Bremerhaven in 1999. The tugs have proved to be exceptionally useful in the port with its heavy traffic in large container ships and car carriers, and its extensive enclosed dock system.