Sanmar strengthens its relationship with Svitzer

Starting first with a delivery to the Middle East, Sanmar recently completed the RAscal 1800 tug Safeen for Abu Dhabi Ports. The vessel is one of Sanmar’s Yenicay series of ASD tugs and the same basic design as Arihi covered previously in this column but with notable differences reflecting specific requirements of its operating area. Arihi has now been delivered to its new home in New Zealand after a two-month, 16,000km voyage as deck cargo on the cargo vessel Deltagracht.

Safeen measures 18.7m overall with a beam of 9.2m and a notable bollard pull of over 32 tonnes derived from twin Caterpillar C32 engines each developing 970kW at 1,800rpm driving Veth VZ900 Z-drives. Its area of operation in the intense heat of the Middle East demands particular attention to the HVAC system which has been modified and upgraded including a split system serving all accommodation spaces. An external fire-fighting system supplied by FFS is also included.

Svitzer A/S now has a solid relationship with Sanmar, strengthened recently when members of Svitzer’s management team visited Sanmar and inspected its two custom-built shipyards to check on progress with existing orders and discuss further contracts with the Turkish shipbuilder, discussions resulting in an order for two more tugs.

Chief technical officer, Kristian Brauner and head of group newbuilding, Esben H Grundvig were accompanied by Sanmar managing director Cem Seven during the visit who confirmed it was ‘business as usual’ at both yards. During the visit the Svitzer team signed a contract for construction of two 24m long, 70tbp RAmparts 2400SX Boğaҫay class ASD tugs, to be constructed at Sanmar’s Altinova facility and due for delivery in October.

Two RAstar 2800E (Sanmar Terminal) tugs are currently under construction at Sanmar for Svitzer and at 28m and 80tbp these larger and more powerful vessels are to operate at the Ichthys LNG project off Australia. This is in addition to a six tug order also for the Ichthys project but with a bollard pull of 70 tonnes.

Elsewhere in this month’s column mention is made of Cheoy Lee Shipyard joining the ‘century club’ with its 100th tug built to a RAL design. Sanmar are however now half way to what will perhaps be called the ‘double-century club’ with first of the RAstar 2800 series for Svitzer set to become the yard’s 150th RAL designed vessel.

Sanmar’s cooperation with RAL began in 1995 since when RAstar, RAmparts and the VectRA Voith Schneider tugs between 15m and 34m have been delivered to customers worldwide

By Peter Barker