A new Argus for Iskes Towage & Salvage
Argus is the 107th ASD tug of its type to be built by Damen and the first for Iskes.
The rapid expansion of the Iskes Towage & Salvage tug fleet, based in the Netherlands at Ijmuiden, continues unabated with the recent addition of one new ASD tug and a second hand tractor tug.
Arriving in its new homeport for the first time in mid-November was the Argus, a brand new Damen ASD Tug 2810 from the Damen Galatz Shipyard in Romania. Argus is the first Damen tug to join the Iskes fleet and represents the latest version of this popular 28m standard ASD tug design. To date, 107 tugs of this type have been completed since the design was first introduced in 2002, with Smit alone purchasing over 20 vessels for use worldwide. In common with all standard Damen designs, the ASD Tug 2810 has been the subject of constant design review and refinement.
Argus was completed as a standard product, ordered and delivered in a relatively short timescale and delivered by sea under its own power. In keeping with the breed, the tug is 28.67m in length overall, with a beam of 10.43m and draft aft of 4.95m. The raised foredeck, with its fully enclosed bulwarks and comprehensive fendering on the bow and shoulders, are now standard features of the ASD 2810. The foredeck has been kept clear of obstructions and is fitted with a hydraulically powered, two speed towing winch with a single split drum. The winch has a brake load of 150 tons, a maximum pull of 35 tons at 9.2m/min, and incorporates an anchor windlass. Although no aft winch was fitted at the time of delivery, a twin drum with similar performance characteristics will be installed in January. The after deck has a closed stern with shallow aft bulwark and is fitted with towing bits, a 5 ton electrically powered capstan and a Marine crane type AK20 E3.
The owners are reported to be more than happy with the performance of their first Damen ASD. A bollard pull of 63 tons was achieved on trials and a maximum free running speed of 13.6 knots. Two Caterpillar 3516C TA HD/C main engines generate a total of 3,739 bkW (5,000 bhp) at 1,600 rpm to drive the Roll-Royce US 205 fully steerable propulsion units.
Auxiliary machinery includes two Caterpillar C4.4 TA powered generator set rated at 107kvA at 230/400V 50 Hz, and a Caterpillar C12 ACERT 1299 fire pump capable of delivering 1200cu/m/hr at 10.5 bar. A hydraulic pump coupled to each main engine supply pressure for the deck machinery.
The fire fighting system comprises two 600 cu/m/hr water/foam monitors located to port and starboard on the forward bridge deck.
Argus arrived in Ijmuiden on the 7 November and carried out its first shiphandling job two days later. The tug carries on the name of the Voith tractor Argus, which in the past had been an important member of the Iskes fleet and was sold a few months ago. Just a few days after the Argus was welcomed at Ijmuiden, the tractor tug ZP Svezia also arrived at the company’s base. This Italian built vessel was purchased from Kotug and is sister ship to the Telstar (ex; ZP Tumak) that joined the Iskes fleet early in 2010. Both of the 27m long tugs were built by Cantieri Navali Ferrari in 1987/88 and are powered by Deutz SBV.6M.628 main engines developing 3,200 bhp and Aquamaster fully azimuthing propulsion units. This arrangement gives the vessels a bollard pull of 45 tons and maximum speed of 12 knots.
The Iskes Towage and Salvage fleet now comprises a total of 13 tugs and is an interesting mix of newbuildings and vessels purchased second hand. Five of the tugs, including Argus, were new constructions, and all are of ASD configuration with bollard pulls of between 63 and 83 tons. Two are Voith tractors and three are tractors with azimuthing propulsion systems. All of the tugs purchased from other operators to date have been the subject of extensive renovation and overhaul, emerging in remarkable condition that really does bear close examination.
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