A new compact tug for a new Canadian company

Named Shuswap, the vessel is a brand new compact ASD shiphandling tug from the drawing board of local designer AG McIlwain, designed specifically to operate in the confined waters of the Fraser River and elsewhere in the locality. The name was chosen as a tribute to the local tugboat industry and a very early steam tug bearing the same name.

Samson Tug Boats was formed by directors Gordon Yahn and Brian McWhirter who have, between them, over half a century of experience in the towage and marine industries. The company is based on the main arm of the Fraser River and employs experienced local tugmen chosen for their commitment and enthusiasm. A floating pier, located at the former Vito Shipyard in Delta BC, has become Samson’s headquarters, providing an office, maintenance facility and moorings. The pier is positioned within easy reach of the main port facilities in the area, including two vehicle terminals, Fraser Wharves and the Fraser Surrey Docks.

Shuswap was constructed by the Sylte Shipyard Ltd at Maple Ridge BC and entered service during the summer months. The tug has an overall length of 17.67m, a beam of 8.58m, a moulded depth of 3.81m and draft of 4.57m (to the bottom of the propulsion units). A single chine hull is almost flat-bottomed, incorporating beveled chines and a tubular docking skeg, all of which give the vessel a rapid rate of turn and great stability.

In keeping with many McIlwain designed ASD tugs, Shuswap has a high raised foredeck and in plan view the bow has a wide radius and is heavily fendered to spread the load when pushing on ships. In fact a formidable array of fendering surrounds the entire vessel, comprising tubular, loop and laminate rubber from Schuyler Rubber.

The new Samson tug is powered by a pair of MTU 12V 4000 M81R, IMO/EPA Tier II standard diesels generating a total of 3,200 bhp at1,600 rpm, coupled to ZF-HRP 6311WM fully azimuthing propulsion units. Each unit incorporates a 5.95:1 ratio reduction gearbox, a four blade propeller of 1,957mm in diameter, rotating in a Kort 19A type nozzle. To enhance response when manoeuvring each unit is capable of rotating through 360° in 18 seconds at any engine speed. This powerplant gives the tug a bollard pull of over 45 tons and a free running speed of 11 knots.

During normal operation, side-stepping at 7 knots is easily achieved. On trials the tug completed a full 360° turn in just seven seconds and achieved a full emergency stop from full ahead in 4.5 seconds.

Auxiliary power aboard Shuswap includes a John Deere 6068 diesel equipped to drive the hydraulic pump for the towing winch and a 30 kW standby alternator. The primary electrical supply onboard is provided by a Kubota auxiliary generator rated at 20 kW. Hydraulic pumps driven by the main engines provide a back-up supply for the winch and power for the fire and bilge pumps.

During shiphandling operations Shuswap tows from a custom built Markey DYD-42 hydraulically powered towing winch located on the foredeck. The single drum winch is fitted with a Markey render-recover system to automatically control rope tension, which can be preset by the tug master on a panel in the wheelhouse. The winch drive system can also render (payout) when line tension increases above a safe figure. Due to space constraints on the foredeck the winch drum is narrower and of larger diameter than standard and accommodates a 140m Samson Ropes Amsteel Blue towline of 2 ½ inches diameter, including an 18m pennant. No spooling gear is required and the towline is deployed through a carefully designed fairlead (staple) with a stainless steel upper porting to obviate wear.

No towing winch is fitted aft but a set of ‘H’ bits is strategically placed for barge work or towing astern. The decks fore and aft have been kept free from obstruction to prevent fouling or ‘trip hazards’.

To enable the tug to work in close proximity to ships with a heavily flared bow and stern the size and position of the wheelhouse and the angled exhaust stacks are designed to give maximum clearance. The mast can also be lowered hydraulically when required.

For a small, compact tug of this type, Shuswap is reported to be a remarkably quiet vessel. A great deal of effort has gone into reducing noise levels, including the use of hospital grade silencers located within the engine room and flexible mountings on the engines. Insulation and sound inhibiting membrane is also used to reduce noise in the accommodation.

The wheelhouse is positioned on four 230mm high resilient mountings to reduce noise levels and increase visibility forward. Large windows and carefully positioned exhaust stacks offer good all round vision.

The main ‘split’ control console carries the electronically operated controls for the engine and propulsion units, and the Markey winch display and control panel. A Furuno NavNet navigational and communications outfit is tailored to the vessel’s expected employment. Although operated largely as a ‘day boat’, accommodation in the forecastle includes two cabins, a galley, mess and toilet facilities.

In the words of director Gordon Yahn, “Shuswap is quite a compact powerhouse designed to work in the confines of the Fraser River, and other areas when required. She is large enough to be a decent sea boat, but is so manoeuvrable that she has all of our Masters smiling when they run her.”

The company currently has plans to start construction of a second shiphandling tug once the specification is finalised.