New work boats pack a punch on the Weser
Ruschsand is seen participating in marine construction works on the River Weser with barge DP 4175.
Bremerhaven’s Wasser und Schiffahrtsamt (WSA) has praised its new 24.2m long multi-purpose work boat Ruschsand, now in service on the Lower Weser, and says a second, similar vessel will be delivered next year.
The Ruschsand doubles up as a powerful tug and work boat to replace the 52 year old WSA tug Spring. The vessel is undertaking a wide range of construction support and maintenance work including the transport of personnel and materials along the lower reaches of the Weser and its arms.
Designed and built by the Fassmer Shipyard in Lemwerder in cooperation with the Mechanical Engineering Centre in Rendsburg, the 6.6m wide Ruschsand displaces 133 tons. It is powered by two MAN D2876 LE 403 engines, each of 331kW at 1,800 rpm, developing 9.7 knots (18 kms/h) on a draft of 1.6m. Driven via two ZF 2000 gearboxes, the two fixed, four blade propellers are of 900 mm diameter. There is also a 6 kN bow thruster.
Special equipment includes an MKG HMC300 crane with an SWL of 1.5 tons at 10.54m, a KNIEF SWL80KN towing hook, two hydraulic winches of Steen Type 70 0 and two Steen Type 52 9 coupling winches.
WSA Bremerhaven official Ulrich Guenther told MJ he was ‘very satisfied’ with the newbuilding which, he added, had ‘fulfilled all technical and economic expectations’.
The GL classed Ruschsand is deployed in waterway maintenance on the Lower Weser and its tributaries. It is also being used to push the new 30.25m long and 8.7m wide barge DP 4175, which loads up to 40 tons and went into service for local authorities last year after its completion by the Schiffswerft Bolle.
WSA Bremerhaven head Werner Kinkartz told MJ Bolle was also currently building a second 24 m GL classed boat for delivery in June next year. Specification was still being worked out but it would be ‘similar’ to Ruschsand, he said.
By Tom Todd
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