Genoa tug fleet gains two powerful additions
Astilleros Armon built the Norvegia and Spagna for use in Genoa.
On 8 October two new harbour tugs, Norvegia and Spagna, were formerly named prior to joining the local tug fleet of Rimorchiatori Riuniti Porto di Genova Srl.
Both new tugs were constructed in Spain by Astilleros Armon in Navia to the Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) RAmparts 2500W design and delivered in August and September respectively.
The RAmparts 2500W design is a new variant of the established RAL standard RAmpart 2500 class. It was developed in close collaboration with Rimorchiatori Riuniti to fulfil the tugowner’s requirement for a compact yet powerful shiphandling tug to operate in the busy and historic port of Genoa. The result is a compact, high performance and extremely agile tug with excellent stability and good all round vision from the wheelhouse.
To achieve those features, this new variant includes a much wider beam than the standard RAmparts 2500 class, with a deckhouse and wheelhouse positioned to give maximum clearance when working under the extreme flare of modern vessels. It also has a large forward working deck and relatively low draft. The Azimuthing Stern Drive (ASD) tugs each have main engines delivering a total of 5,200 bhp and a bollard pull of 70 tons.
RAL reported that, “Astilleros Armon performed an admirable job constructing the vessels true to the design drawings and the quality is evident in the finished product.” The tugs were built to meet the RINA Class notations; C, HULL, MACH, Tug, AUT-UMS, Unrestricted Navigation.
Both tugs have an overall length of 24.40m, a moulded breadth of 5.10m and a maximum loaded draft of 5.08m. Dedicated integral tanks are capable of accommodating 84,300 litres of fuel oil, 10,100 litres of potable water, 44,600 litres of water ballast and 44,600 litres of reserve potable water in the peak tanks.
A pair of Caterpillar 3516C main engines each produce a maximum of 1,920 kW at 1,600 rpm to drive Rolls-Royce US 205FP propulsion units through a straight line shafting system. On trials the Norvegia performed beyond expectations, achieving a mean bollard pull of 70 tons and a free running speed of 13.3 knots.
Electrical power is supplied by a pair of Caterpillar C4.4 diesel generating sets, each with a 93 kW rating and the ability to operate singly or in parallel. Both of these compact tugs are equipped for fire fighting with a single, remotely controlled monitor mounted on the port side at bridge deck level. The monitor is supplied by a1,200 cu/m/hour capacity fire pump driven by one main engine.
Deck machinery includes a hydraulically driven towing winch on the fore deck for shiphandling operations. The Italian built winch, supplied by Romagnoli Officina Meccanica Srl, incorporates an anchor cable lifter and horizontal warping head. A towing post, a quick release tow hook and capstan are installed on the after deck for occasional towing operations over the stern.
The ‘all important’ bow fender comprises an 800 mm diameter hollow cylindrical rubber moulding forward above a series of 600mm x 300mm ‘W’ section block mouldings. The stern and transom corners are also fitted with the same ‘W’ block mouldings and the shear strake is fitted with 300mm hollow ‘D’ rubber moulding.
The accommodation aboard Norvegia and Spagna is fitted out for a crew of six persons. Two cabins for officers, a mess and a galley are located at main deck level. The lower accommodation deck, which is positioned above the deepest load waterline in all load conditions, incorporates two crew cabins, WC and shower, a laundry, and a generous store room. In keeping with the majority of tugs from the design office of RAL, considerable attention was paid throughout the design process to mitigate the propagation of noise and vibration. This includes the essential resilient mounting of the main engines, isolation of all exhaust system components, and the extensive use of visco-elastic floating floor systems throughout.
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