UZMAR launches another ‘Smart’ line handling tug for KOC

This class of 20m compact line handlers designed by RAL has been dubbed the ‘smartest’ of its type.

The ceremony was held in the presence of Mr Sami Al-Sawagh, the KOC Team Leader and other representatives from the KOC project team and DNV.

Captain Kaan Altug, Board Member of UZMAR, stated during his speech: “We are proud to build such smart line handling tugs to assist tankers in coastal loading terminals and at the new KOC ‘single-point’ mooring system further offshore. He added: “We call them ‘Smart’ tugs because these 20m compact boats are equipped with machinery and systems that have never been designed or built before. Thanks are due to the designers RAL who was able to incorporate a very complex list of equipment in such a compact boat but that were necessary for the required duties.”

All six tugs are conventional twin-screw vessels of 20.4m in length, with a breadth of 8.5m and a draft of 2.5m. The vessels are classed by Lloyds Register; 100A1 Tug, WDL, LMC, UMS notation and the construction onsite was overseen by Det Norske Veritas (DNV).

Fitting the required machinery and equipment installation in a 20m vessel was a challenge for the UZMAR in-house engineering team, assisted computerised 3D design tools. The aim was to optimise the limited space available, with future maintenance and servicing in mind.

KOC Musaned-2 and its sisters are powered by twin Caterpillar C32 main engines, each generating 1200 bhp at 2000 rev/min. In this application the engines have a 20% reserve of power, as required by the customer. The tugs will operate in Kuwaiti ports where the weather conditions may reach some extreme levels. This extra reserve power is merely to protect the engines from the overheating failures.

The engines are coupled, via ZF reverse reduction gearboxes to ‘Teignbridge’ fixed pitch propellers rotating in nozzles. Line-handling requires a high degree of manoeuvrability and precise positioning ability, that is achieved in this case by fitting a ‘highly efficient’ triple-rudder steering system on each nozzle. This propulsion system gives the tugs a maximum bollard pull of 19 tonnes and speed of 10.5 knots.

Two Caterpillar 4.4 auxiliary generators, rated 86 ekW-50hz at 1500rpm are installed to meet not only domestic shipboard loads but also to power the electrically driven deck machinery. Power supplies are controlled and monitored via a Kongsberg main electrical switchboard.

An outfit of deck machinery from Kraaijeveld includes a windlass, with two warping drums, an electric capstan, starter boxes, and chain stopper. The tug is also equipped with an Ayles Fernie chemical dispersant system.

The wheelhouse has good all-around visibility and is equipped with a comprehensive outfit of navigation and communication systems, including INMARSAT Mini-C, INMARSAT Fleet Broadband (with a speed of 128kbps), a Ship Security Alert System, Data Recorder and a Furuno NAVTEX Receiver.

All accommodation areas and wheelhouse are fully air conditioned.

By Jack Gaston