Rubicon & Righteous – a New Year delivery for PSA

Both tugs were built to the RAmparts 3200 design from Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) but by different shipyards. Rubicon was constructed by Cheoy Lee Shipyards, in Hong Kong and Righteous by Yuexin Ocean Engineering Co Ltd, Guangzhou, in China.

RAL has had a long association with PSA Marine and worked closely with both of the shipyards concerned in the design development of these two tugs, which are required specifically for shiphandling service and coastal towing. Although carrying the same RAmparts 3200 designation Rubicon, a RAmparts 3200CL design, was uniquely designed for Cheoy Lee Shipyards to suit their production facilities and client base. The most notable feature of this design is the shallower draft than the standard tug, a frequent requirement in Asia. The Righteous is a RAmparts 3200W design with slightly different characteristics. Both tugs are 32.0m in length overall but there are small differences in dimensions and tank capacities.

Both tugs have been designed and built to comply with the class requirements of Lloyd’s Register of Shipping with the notations: X 100A1, Tug, UMS, X LMC, Fire-Fighting Ship 1 with Water Spray, Unrestricted Voyages.

The propulsion machinery installed in the two vessels is identical. A pair of Niigata 6L28HX main engines, each generating 1,654kW (total of approximately 4,436 bhp), drive a pair of Niigata ZP31 Z-Peller propulsion units.

Two identical diesel auxiliary generators rated at 110ekW each supply the vessels’ electrical services. The FiFi 1 fire-fighting system is supplied by a single pump of 2,780 m3/hr capacity, driven by the starboard main engine. A pair of remotely operated, short barrel, fire monitors is installed aft on the bridge deck.

On trials, Rubicon and Righteousbothexceeded all performance expectations, with bollard pulls greater than 65 tonnes and a maximum speed of 12.8 knots. Tank capacities are designed to give the tugs extended endurance at sea.

Deck machinery includes a combined, single (split) drum, towing winch and anchor windlass on the fore deck. A single drum winch is located on the aft deck, along with an open stern, gob eye, deck crane and tugger winch. Flush mounted machinery access hatches are also provided.

The fendering fitted on the tugs is quite different. Rubicon has a bow fender comprising two rows of cylindrical rubber and a single hollow ‘D’ section moulding at the main deck and forecastle sheer line. Righteous has a more comprehensive fendering system made up of cylindrical rubber, ‘D’ section strakes, and numerous ‘W’ section block mouldings.

Accommodation is provided for a crew of up to eight persons, with en suite cabins for the Master and Chief Engineer, the crew mess/lounge and galley at main deck level. Two cabins are located below decks for a maximum of six crew, with sanitary facilities and store rooms.