New Damen tugs serve the Australian Navy

The vessels are employed by the owner’s Fleet Marine Services division, located at the Royal Australian Navy’s base ‘HMS Stirling’ at Rockingham, near Perth.

Tancred is a Damen ASD Tug 2310 tug constructed at the Changde to meet the requirements of Bureau Veritas notations; 1+Hull, MACH Tug Unrestricted Navigation, AUT, UMS, *IWS and including tonnage and load-line certification for Australian waters. In Australian naval terms this little vessel is designated a ‘HTL’ (harbour tug large).

A true compact in every way, Tancred is designed to undertake shiphandling in the push-pull mode, mooring and general towage operations. The tug measures just 22.73m in length, with a beam of 10.43m and draft (aft) of 4.40m. The hull is based on established Damen ASD principals and designed to offer excellent manoeuvrability whilst towing ahead or astern. The bulwarks are completely closed structures, adding enormously to the strength of the vessel and reducing maintenance. Likewise, the decks have been kept as free from obstructions as possible and the superstructure is designed to offer maximum overhead clearance when working in close proximity to ships.

A comprehensive fendering system is installed to protect the bow when carrying out push-pull operations and on the sides and aft quarters when working alongside or towing over the stern. All of the fendering used is coloured grey to avoid marking the paintwork on warships.

Tancred is powered by two Caterpillar 3512C TA HD+C main engines generating a total of 4,023 bhp, coupled to a pair of Rolls-Royce US 205 Mk 1 fully steerable propulsion units. This installation results in an extremely agile tug with a maximum bollard pull of 47.6 tons towing ahead and 44.2 tons astern, and a maximum speed of 12.6 knots ahead and 12.0 knots astern.

For shiphandling, a hydraulically powered single drum towing winch is combined with the anchor windlass. The winch has a brake holding capacity of 130 tons on the second layer and a maximum line pull of 18 tons at 11m/min. A line speed of 33m/min is available for towline recovery with a slack rope.

The wheelhouse and installation of the control console follows Damen standard practice intended to afford maximum all round vision and an ergonomically designed layout of controls and instrumentation.

Fully air conditioned accommodation is provided for up to six persons in two cabins at deck level and two in the forepeak. Also included is a galley/mess room and the usual sanitary facilities.

Damen Changde also delivered to Fleet Marine Services a Damen Stan Tug 1606, bearing the traditional Australian tug name Wattle. This tug/workboat is a standard vessel and one of the growing number to be built to this latest 16m design. Wattle has a pair of Caterpillar C18 TA/B main engines generating a total of 1,216 bhp to give the twin screw vessel a bollard pull of 16.7 tons and a top speed of 11.3 knots. With the exception of the provision of grey fendering material and other minor items it is virtually an off the shelf product. This little tug also had the distinction of being the 100th vessel to be launched by the Changde yard.