Ultra-shallow draught workhorse for GSS Marine

Activity at GSS Marine along with expansion of its tug and workboat fleet is increasingly coming to the attention of Maritime Journal and this triple-screwed, ultra-shallow draught, DP equipped latest addition to its fleet is of interest in several ways.

Ella F was built by Neptune Shipyards and is from the Dutch company’s Eurotug range. While based in Scotland, GSS Marine has a presence in the port of Maasluis West of Rotterdam, a historic location with a long association with the Dutch towing industry. It was at Maasluis that the new vessel was handed over recently by Neptune Shipyards’ director Mr Martin de Kok to Mr Jamie McGarry and Mr Jan Peute on behalf of GSS Marine. Mrs Liz Fergusson, the vessel’s godmother carried out the traditional christening duties on what was a special occasion for both builder and new owner.

MULTIPURPOSE ROLE REQUIREMENTS
Before looking at the vessel itself, an overview of GSS Marine’s activities indicates that the Ella F will be required to undertake a wide range of duties. The company has at its disposal a diverse range of: Shoalbusters, Eurocarriers, multi-role vessels, multicats, pontoons and RIBs.

Services offered by GSS include: marine construction; dredging, diving and offshore renewables support and maintenance of navigation lights and buoys in ports and coastal waters. An area of activity of note is its involvement with the Royal Navy at Faslane nuclear submarine base in Scotland.

Turning now to the vessel itself, General Arrangement plans indicate a conventional tug layout with accommodation forward. At the same time the plan view is of an almost ‘square’ shape akin perhaps to multicat type workboats, which often feature mid-length offset wheelhouse and accommodation. Ella F therefore presents a spacious (300m2) wood sheathed afterdeck allowing for a range of activities where adequate deck space is a requirement.

Other stand-out impressions from the GA plans include an ultra-shallow draught flat bottom form, also a reinforced bow with a central push-knee and two similar on the transom either side of the stern roller.

Quoted roles for the vessel are: pushing, mooring, towing, anchor-handling, cable repair, windfarm support, near shore works, dredging support and passenger transport. It is built to BV class with the notation 1+ HULL MACH AUT-UMS, TUG, unrestricted navigation, DYNAPOS AM/AT R, GMDSS Area A3. The vessel also meets unrestricted service rules of the Dutch Shipping Inspectorate and flies the Dutch flag with its home port Maasluis.

Neptune’s Eurotug portfolio covers vessels from 13m to 43m with Ella F described as a Eurotug 3415 design. Length overall is 36.6m on a beam of 15m, depth at the sides 2.9m and draught listed as a very shallow 1.4m with a gt figure of 496t. Tank capacities include: fuel oil 173m3, fresh water 85m3, black/grey water 6.5m3, lube oil 1.3m3, hydraulic oil 1.3m, gearbox oil 0.9m3, dirty oil 2.6m3 and bilge water 5.2m3.

TRIPLE-SCREW ARRANGEMENT
Looking at the machinery installation, power is provided by three Caterpillar C32 main engines each rated 1,312bkW at 1,800rpm. Propulsion to the three propellers is via Twin Disc MGX3521 gearboxes with manoeuvrability enhanced by three transverse thrusters, each rated 275kW, one forward and two aft. Caterpillar also provide auxiliary machinery including three C9 and one C32 gensets with hydraulic services provided by two 90kW power packs. Performance figures are quoted as an average bollard pull of 32t and free running speed 10kn.

Deck machinery reflects the multipurpose role of the vessel with towing provision over the stern from a hydraulic anchor-handling/towing winch immediately abaft the wheelhouse. The 100t anchor-handling drum pulls 7m/min at low speed and 18m/min at high speed, the towing winch having slightly higher figures of 18m/min low speed and 28m/min high speed. Alongside the main winch is a 15t tugger winch and additional towing capability is provided by a Mampaey 30 ton SWL disc-type towing hook.

On the port side mid-length, a deck crane is fitted in the form of a Heila HLRM 230-4SL with heave compensated winch and towing pins and a chain stopper aft. While not included in the initial build, provision is made for a four-point mooring arrangement. Interestingly, and as evidenced elsewhere, provision is also made for a walk-to-work motion compensated gangway, a system now used in particular for working alongside offshore wind turbines.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOMMODATION
Passenger carrying is on the list of duties for Ella F and air-conditioned accommodation is provided for 22 persons, complemented by a galley, mess room and sanitary facilities all meeting ILO regulations.

Navigation and communication equipment on board is extensive and reflects its unrestricted operation capabilities including radio equipment satisfying requirements for GMDSS Area A3. The wheelhouse is configured in the modern style of arranging controls and instruments ergonomically with good visibility provided over the forward, aft and side decks. There are two control stations comprising spilt consoles forward and aft with helmsman’s chairs on sliding rails between each. There is also a chart table area port side forward in the wheelhouse.

Neptune Marine Services is based in Aalst to the east of Rotterdam in a part of the southern Netherlands rich with small boat and ship building and repair yards. It has a number of ship building and repair subsidiary companies based at Hardinxveld – Giessendam, also a marine projects office further north at Groningen.

Its products list includes, as well as the Eurotug range the well-known Eurocarrier multipurpose workboats both of which are series built and available from stock. Similarly, pontoons, barges and jack-ups along with fast crew tenders are other specialist vessels produced by Neptune.

By Peter Barker