Mustang: an impressive delivery

Mustang

is a twin screw tug built to the same basic design as the ‘Viking’, delivered to Koerts International Towing Service a year ago, but with some relatively minor changes to the propulsion system and outfitting.

In keeping with the earlier vessel Mustang is designed primarily for coastal and short sea towage but does have the capability to provide anchor handling and other assistance on site for marine civil engineering projects. To ensure operational flexibility the tug meets the class requirements for Bureau Veritas 1 1/3 Tug Unrestricted Navigation MACH AUT UMS and can therefore carry out towage at sea with minimal restriction.

Mustang has a double chine hull and measures 30.8m in length overall, with a beam of 11.00m, a depth of 4.2m and a working draft of between 3.5m and 4.2m. The hull form is virtually identical to the Viking, with a raised forecastle and a heavy single push knee in the bow. Heavy steel rubbing strakes are fitted all round, at deck level and on the forward shoulders to protect the forecastle.

An open stern has a 6.5m wide, 1.8m diameter, stern roller. A large clear work deck aft has 100 sq/m of space with a maximum deck loading of 7 ton/sq/m and can be used for cargo when necessary. Tank capacities are given as 22 cu/m of fuel oil, 18 cu/m of fresh water, 3.6 cu/m of lubricating oil, 1,5 cu/m of hydraulic oil and 4.8 cu/m of sewage.

It is reported that Mustang performed extremely well on trials, achieving a bollard pull of 82 tons at its maximum continuous rating (MCR) and exceeded that figure substantially at full power. A free running speed of 13.5 knots was also recorded. A pair of Mitsubishi S12 U MPTK main engines generate a total of 6,080bhp to drive a pair of 2.8m metre fixed pitch propellers. Power is transmitted through Masson W 20500 gearboxes with a 5:1 reduction. The propellers are larger than those installed on Viking and rotate within a pair of fixed ‘short pattern’ nozzles, each fitted with twin, widely spaced, ‘high lift’ rudders. Manoeuvrability is enhanced further with the installation of an Omega 240Kw bow thruster.

Electrical power is supplied by two Mitsubishi 6D 16T,140 kVA generator sets. A further Mitsubishi S A3 MPTK 600bhp diesel, located between the main engines, provides power for the hydraulic power pack supplying the deck machinery.

Towing gear includes a Kraaveld twindrum ‘waterfall style’ hydraulic towing winch. One drum accommodates 1,000m of 58mm diameter steel wire towline and the other a 700m work wire for anchor handling. A set of Karmoy retractable tow pins and a line handling fork is fitted forward of the stern roller. Also installed on the after deck is a tugger winch with a line pull of 8500kn, and 25 ton capstan. Heavy ‘Dutch towing bitts’ located aft of the winch also act as fairleads and the workdeck aft has a wood covering for protection during anchor handling operations. A 200t/m Heila hydraulic deck crane is located on a deep pedestal adjacent to the main winch on the starboard side.

Once again the superstructure, wheelhouse and exhaust uptakes retain the familiar Kooiman design. The wheelhouse is well appointed and of the usual style but on this vessel the rearward facing windows extend to full ‘ceiling to floor’ height, giving an exceptional view over the afterdeck.

A comprehensive outfit of navigational and communications equipment is installed, with all of the vital controls and instruments related to the operation of the vessel located on a ‘U’ shaped console and overhead panels located centrally at the forward end of the wheelhouse.

Included in the electronics package are one Furuno 2117 radar with ARPA, one Furuno river radar, two Furuno FEA 2107 chart displays and two Transas Navisailor systems, two Furuno GP150 GPS sets with SSAS facilities and a Furuno FE700 echosounder. An RZ Seapilot 75 autopilot is fitted, along with a Tokimec ES 150 gyro compass and Furuno DS 80 doppler log. In addition to the normal VHF radios, a Furuno single side band FS 2570 set is fitted, along with two Furuno Falcon 15 Inmarsat C sets, an NX 700 & NX 701 Navtex and an FA 150 AIS..

Fully air conditioned accommodation is provided for up to eight persons.

Mustang was launched in an advanced state of completion during the first few days of February and was handed over following trials in March. At the time of writing the tug was employed transporting ‘monopiles’ from Flushing to Ramsgate by barge for the Thanet wind farm project.