Multraship to get a major boost in bollard pull – by Jack Gaston
‘Multratug 3’ is on its delivery voyage to Europe.
The fleet of towage and salvage specialist Multraship BV will receive a considerable boost in bollard pull with the delivery a brand new Damen ASD Tug 3213.
Named Multratug 3, the new tug left Vietnam on 30 September on its delivery voyage to the Schelde.
Multratug 3 was built by Damen Shipyards in their Song Cam Shipyard and is the fifth tug of the new ASD 3213 design to be completed. The first four vessels are now in service with Smit (MJ – October 2009). Multratug 3 was completed from ‘stock’ and has very similar machinery and equipment. During trials prior to leaving Vietnam the 32m tug achieved a maximum bollard pull of 94.7 tons and a free running speed of 14.3 knots.
This relatively new ASD design was introduced by Damen to meet a growing demand for powerful, highly sophisticated terminal tugs, capable of handling the latest generation of large ships and tanker traffic under a variety of arduous conditions. The design incorporates input from the MARIN joint industry ‘Safe Tug’ project.
With an overall length of 32.14m the tug has a beam of 13.29m, a depth of 5.50m and draft (aft) of 6.00m. The hull form incorporates increased volume forward, a raised forecastle, deep box keel and a pronounced sheer aft increasing freeboard at the open stern. This additional freeboard aft enhances the tugs’ performance while running astern and reduces the ingress of water on deck. A pair of Caterpillar C280-8/MC main engines produce a total of 7,268 bhp (5,420 bkW) at 1,000 rpm to power Rolls-Royce US 285 fully azimuthing propulsion units incorporating 3,000mm diameter controllable pitch propellers.
Multratug 3 is scheduled to arrive at Vlissingen in early December and after further commissioning and trials will join the Multraship fleet at Terneuzen, the company’s homeport in the Netherlands.
Multraship managing director Leendert Muller said, ‘Multraship’s commitment to the Scheldt area is well known, and was further reinforced two years ago when it launched Antwerp Towage NV, a 50/50 joint venture with Fairplay Towage. Antwerp Towage has been a great success, and we have increased our client base and number of calls in Antwerp significantly. Multratug 3 represents the latest phase in our overall strategic plans for renewal and expansion. We believe that it will be the strongest tug on the Scheldt and, with its FiFi1 capabilities, it is set to play an important role in future emergency response operations in the area.’
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