Barry to Build a New Offshore Tug at Zamakona

Negotiations were subsequently conducted through the sale and purchase department of Banchero-Costa & C Spa, of Genova, Italy and early in May, Barry Towage & Offshore SA announced through its management company Interconsult SAS, that a Letter of Intent had been signed with Astilleros Zamakona SA of Bilbao in Spain.

The Madeira based operator selected the design because it best fits all of their requirements and expectations for expanding the present fleet. The designing company also cooperated closely with the owner in finalising the vessel’s technical specification.

Astilleros Zamakona was awarded the contract, after a stiff competition between twelve other shipyards, due to its reputation for tug building experience and high standards of quality.

A vessel of 49.50m in length, the new tug will have a moulded breadth of 15.00m, design draft of 4.75m and comply with RINA class rules – C+ Salvage tug; Fire Fighting Ship 1 with water spray;

unrestricted navigation; TPF;

AUT-UMS; Oil Recovery;

SISNEQ 1. The ‘Rampage’ design is a compact multi-purpose offshore vessel capable of towing, ship handling, escort work, FPSO hose handling, oil spill response, fire fighting, salvage, and the transfer of personnel and stores.

Anglo Belgian Corporation NV (ABC) will supply the two ABC 16V DZC main engines, each rated at 3,400kW at 960rpm, producing a total of 9,248bhp. A pair of Schottel SRP 3030 CP propulsion units will be installed along with a Schottel STT-2 bow thruster. This propulsion system is expected to give a bollard pull ahead of 114 tons and a free running speed of at least 14 knots.

Deck machinery on board the new vessel will be electrically driven and manufactured by Ridderinkhof BV and customised to suit the owner’s requirements.

The latter will include a single split-drum towing winch forward equipped with one 600m steel wire towline of 64mm diameter and one 250m Dyneema manmade fibre towline also of 64mm diameter.

This forward winch will be configured for towing and escort duties and have a line pull of 120 tons and maximum brake capacity of 300 tons. The main towing and anchor handling winch on the afterdeck will be of the under-spooled ‘reverse waterfall’ type with twin independent drums. Each drum will have the capacity to take 1000m of 64mm diameter steel wire. A line pull of 180 tons is quoted, with a maximum brake load of 300 tons.

Both winches will be electrically driven and controlled through a frequency inverter. Other deck equipment by Ridderinkhof will include, two tugger winches, two capstans, a split drum powered storage reel, and an anchor windlass.

A comprehensive array of navigational and communications equipment will be installed to comply with GMDSS Areas A1-A2-A3 and the vessel will comply with SYSNEQ 1 Class notation for one man bridge operation.

Fully air conditioned accommodation for up to 22 persons (maximum 14 crew + eight passengers) will be provided in four single, five double and two four-berth cabins. Other facilities will include galley, mess room, lounge, fitness room and extensive storage capacity for all types of provisions and spares.

This new vessel represents a large step forward for Barry Towage & Offshore in their quest for a greater share in the offshore market and confirms the company’s intention to rapidly expand its fleet. In only three years Barry Towage has tripled its fleet, with state of the art, highly sophisticated vessels in an attempt to meet their clients’ requirements. With this new vessel they will be able to offer the market a range of vessels capable of a wide variety of offshore services and bollard pull performance.