Delivery and order round-up

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With just three deliveries and three orders of note this month we can examine some interesting items of news in more detail.

MJ has reported previously on Damen’s series of ‘next generation’ tugs and recently the ASD Tug 2312 bearing the number ‘01’ suffix in its yard number designation for this type and the name Jupiter was delivered to Iskes of IJmuiden and now bears the name Svitzer Jupiter as part of the Port Towage Amsterdam operation. The order was sealed at ITS 2018 in Marseille

The ASD 2312 has several notable features qualifying it for the next generation tag including shatter-proof Damen Safety Glass in the wheelhouse and twin-fin arrangement below the waterline. The 60tbp tug is IMO Tier III ready but it is its towing arrangement that catches the eye.

For towing over the bow and stern tugs will generally have independent winches forward and aft or perhaps a towing hook aft. Some may have provision for the tow line to be routed from the forward winch through a tunnel in the accommodation to the aft deck for towing over the stern.

Damen’s solution, described as a ‘one winch wonder’ is to reposition the double-drum winch further aft, integrated into the superstructure area beneath the wheelhouse.

This has naturally led to a different arrangement for the accommodation which is often located beneath the wheelhouse. The ASD Tug 2312 has a forecastle deck and an accommodation deck below the main deck with provision for six crew in four cabins and a mess/galley.

Sanmar describe the Boğaçay class ASD tug as its ‘flagship product’ with 40 now delivered worldwide and Rimorchiatori Salerno SrL, part of the Rimorchiatori Riuniti S.p.a group recently took delivery of the Arechi (ex Boğaçay XXXIV) an example of the RAmparts 2400SX design joining the Città di Salerno (ex Boğaçay XXXII) delivered to the same group in 2018. The owners state they are ‘… small, compact and powerful, ideal for a port like Salerno. We are very satisfied with the price/quality ratio of Sanmar tugboats.’

A Caterpillar/Kongsberg main engine and thruster arrangement provide 60tbp and Arechi has fifi 0.5 provision and is MLC and Italian flag compliant.

News from beyond Europe but worthy of note concerns delivery of YT 808, the first of six RAL Z-Tech 4500 tugs for the US Navy by Dakota Creek Industries of Washington. The series is based on the six Valiant (YT 802) class which have been in continuous operation since 2010 and follows feedback from skippers and also incorporating new navy requirements including the inclusion of EPA Tier 4 main engines.

A Caterpillar/Schottel main engine and thruster combination provides 40tbp for the 27.4m long vessels and standard fendering provisions are complimented by an extensive fendering arrangement underwater for operation with submarines along with new diagonal ‘D’ side fendering to push low freeboard barges.

Returning to Europe and order news, Turkey’s Uzmar Shipyards has confirmed two orders involving three RAL-designed tugs. A video conference was held between Uzmar and Port of Aarhus to sign the contract for a RAmparts 3000 tug, the vessel to be a more environmentally friendly and efficient version of the tug it will replace and due for delivery in 2021.

Reflecting the clients faith in both the yard and design, customer manager Nicolai Krøyer says: ‘The shipyard lived up to all our requirements, and at the same time they can deliver a tugboat that can operate on one engine as we sail back and forth to the ship to be towed while using both ship’s engines during towing.’ At 65tbp it will be 20t more powerful than the 40-year old Hermes it will replace and its firefighting system will allow it to assist East Jutland Fire Department with shoreside firefighting operations.

The second Uzmar success is an important order for two RAstar 3200W emergency response escort tugs for Directorate General of Coastal Safety for safety and security provision ‘at the highest level’ in the Turkish Strait and Maritime Jurisdiction Areas.

The 32m, 80tbp pair can be seen as an important reference for both Uzmar and the client where the emergency response element allows for a high-spec consideration, their duties stated as including: ship rescue, escort, towage services, towing and pushing, port services, firefighting and stand-by duties.

By Peter Barker