Three powerful RAmparts for Saudi Arabia

The RAmparts 3200-W class are powerful shiphandling and terminal support tugs designed to act as harbour, escort, pollution control and fire-fighting tugs. Named Rasalkir 1, Rasalkir 2 and Rasalkir 3, they will be employed to assist in shiphandling and all maintenance requirements in the ports of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in both the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf waters.

Tugs of the RAmparts Class are a proven, standardised, ASD design developed from a successful prototype vessel or series of vessels, and refined to ensure ease of customisation and construction, to meet the owners’ specific requirements.

RAL worked closely with Zamil to establish the final specification and vessel layout for the demanding service required of these tugs. The design reflects the now well proven RAL hull form, including the double-chine, a sweeping chined stern, and a large escort skeg forward to enhance the indirect towing capability and to provide enhanced roll stability.

All three tugs measure 31.00m LOA with a moulded beam of 12.00m and maximum draft of 5.20m. The vessels have been built and classed to American Bureau of Shipping notations: A1, Towing Vessel, Fire-fighting Vessel Class 1, AMS, ABCU, Unrestricted Navigation.

A pair of Yanmar 8EY26 medium speed diesels deliver a total of 4,720 kW (approx 6340 bhp) at 750 rpm. The power is transmitted by Carden shaft to a pair of Kawasaki KST-220ZC/B Rexpellers. On trials the tugs met or exceeded all performance expectations with a bollard pull ahead of 72 tons, 67 tons pulling astern and a maximum speed of 13.5 knots ahead and astern.

Ras Alkir 1 and its sisters have tank capacities large enough to ensure extended endurance at sea, including; 192.6 cu/m of fuel, 26.4 cu/m of fresh water, 34.8 cu/m of ballast.

The tugs are equipped primarily to tow over the heavily fendered bow from a towing winch or tow hook on the foredeck for ship assist and escort work. A towing hook and capstan are fitted aft for secondary duties and towing astern.

A typical RAL style wheelhouse is designed for maximum all round visibility, with overhead viewing windows, a split console forward, and a centre console facing aft, with firefighting controls and a similar driving position. A chart table is located on the portside and a communication station is located on the same side at a lower level of the wheelhouse.

Accommodation aboard this trio is well appointed, with cabins for the Master and Chief Engineer with private facilities, a mess/lounge and galley with a comfortable seating area for the crew to relax between shifts, all at main deck level. An owner’s stateroom, a comfortable single berth cabin, with ensuite facilities is also provided, specifically set aside for an owner’s representative. Below deck is accommodation for six crew members, sanitary facilities, a laundry, the air conditioning and ventilation plant room, and access to the engine control room and engineroom.