The first RAmpage 4500 enters service

This new vessel is one of a growing breed of tugs fully equipped for anchorhandling, shiphandling, long distance towing operations, fire fighting, deck cargo and personnel transfers, and other offshore support duties.

Designed by Robert Allan Ltd of Vancouver, and built in China by GMG Shipbuilding & Heavy Industry Co. Ltd, AOS Power is the very first vessel to be built to the new RAmpage 4500 design.

The RAmpage Class was developed by Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) to address a gap in the market for smaller high performance towing and anchorhandling tugs for critical offshore terminal and oilfield duties. This new RAmpage design is the latest member of a very successful class of offshore support tugs, designed to maintain station in extreme ocean conditions, with enhanced manoeuvring and seakeeping capabilities.

AOS Power is a twin screw vessel measuring 45m in length overall, with a beam of 15m and design draft of 4.6m. The tug was built to comply with Bureau Veritas class rules and the notations; BV 1 X HULL, X MACH, Tug special service, Anchor handling, Fire-Fighting ship 1+ Waterspray, Unrestricted navigation.

A pair of Wärtsila 6L26 diesel main engines, each developing a maximum of 2,040 kW at 1,000 rpm, drives a Lips CS250 controllable pitch propeller. With a total of approximately 5,470 bhp available, the vessel has a bollard pull of 70 tonnes (at MCR) and a free running speed of 13.9 knots. Manoeuvrability is enhanced by a 400 kW, controllable pitch, electrically powered bow thruster.

Electrical power is supplied by three Caterpillar C18 auxiliary generators, each rated at 500 kW and, for emergencies, a 95 kW generator powered by a Cummins 6CTA-M diesel.

A heavy duty bow fender is fitted for shiphandling and is made up of tubular and moulded rubber block sections. Block sections also protect the aft corner and aircraft tyres are use along the sides. Deck machinery comprises a single drum towing winch on the foredeck and a double drum waterfall winch aft, along with a stern roller, shark’s jaw line handling equipment, a gobeye, deck crane, tow hook, tugger winches, capstans, storage reel, etc.

The vessel has considerable tank capacity to enable it to remain offshore for long periods. Among a dozen tanks available, the following are allocated for 525 cu/m of fuel oil, 115 cu/m of fresh water, 145 cu/m of water ballast, 140 cu/m of drill water, 20 cu/m fire fighting foam, and 15 cu/m of oil dispersant.

AOL Power has been fitted out for a normal crew of 15 persons but provision is made to accommodate up to 25 if required. A large main deckhouse contains a spacious galley, a mess and cabins for senior officers. Provision is made on ‘A deck’ for guests, with air conditioned rooms, lockers, etc. The lower deck contains a galley, dry and cold stores, laundry room, engineer stores and a workshop. The wheelhouse is designed for maximum all-round visibility, with forward and aft control stations providing maximum visibility of the work decks fore and aft.