Luca Primo goes to Norway

In January 2011 the fleet will be joined by the Voith tractor tug Luca Primo on long-term bareboat charter from the Italian tugowner Societa Esercizio Rimorchi e Salvataggi (SERS) Srl.

Built as the Luca in 2000 by Rosetti Marino SpA of Ravenna, the tug was designed for ship handling, escort and terminal duties. For much of its working life the tug has been operated under contract in Venezuela. The tug was renamed Luca Primo on its return to Italy earlier this year.

Luca Primo is a Voith tractor of 32.50m in overall length with a 11.50m beam and a maximum draft of 5.55m. Two Deutz SBV 9M 628 main engines generating a total of 5,168bhp power twin Voith Schneider 28 G11/210 cycloidal propellers. This arrangement gives the tug a bollard pull of 55 tons and a maximum speed of 12 knots.

The tug is equipped to a good standard, meeting the RINA class requirements for +100 A 1.1 – Nav IL – Rec Oil – Escort tug +FFQ 1 +IAQ-1. Towing winches are fitted fore and aft and the high, centrally located wheelhouse gives good all round vision. Remotely operated fire monitors mounted high above the wheelhouse meet the RINA standard for FF 1 and provision is made onboard to accept over 193 cu/m of recovered oil.

The new addition to the fleet will be renamed Stadt Luca and bring the total number of tugs operated by the company to six. Stadt Sjøtransport AS is a relatively young company formed in 2005 by a group of investors who were already well established within the shipping environment on the west coast of Norway. An increase in shipping in local ports and high activity in the many shipyards in the region was the trigger that started the business in the area. The tug will be used for work on the spot market in Norway and to undertake the transportation of ship modules using a North Sea barge.