A new generation of Rotor Tugs includes Hybrids

As reported earlier in the year, orders were placed with both Cheoy Lee and Damen Shipyards for tugs required by KOTUG International.

Cheoy Lee Shipyards has started work on the construction of four ART 80-32 tugs. The first two will be completed for Kotug and the remaining pair are being built as stock vessels for Cheoy Lee and held as stock to be made available at a future date, with reduced lead times. Cheoy Lee has scheduled the first two for completion in the second quarter of 2014 with construction to Lloyds +100A1 Tug, +LMC, UMS, *IWS, Coastal Service. Both Kotug vessels will be fitted for fire fighting to FF1 standard.

This Advanced Rotor Tug design ART 80-32 is a modern high performance tug specifically designed for harbour terminal berthing operations and escorting. The new vessels will measure 31.95m in length overall with a beam of 12.60m, a deph of 4.82m and draft of 6.31m.

Three Caterpillar 3512C main engines will be installed, each developing 1,765kW (2,365 hp) at 1,800 rpm, a total of 7,095 bhp. As the designation implies, the 32m vessels will deliver a bollard pull of 80 tonnes, both ahead and astern, along with a free running speed of 12.5 knots.

Accommodation will be provided for up to six persons, with single berth cabins for the master and engineer on the main deck, with a large crew mess and lounge and the galley.Two double berth cabins will be located on the lower deck with the galley store and laundry room.

Single drum towing winches will be installed fore and aft, each with a brake holding capacity of 230 tonnes and a line pull of 30 tonnes at 15 m/min on the first layer. Both drums will accommodate a 200m synthetic towline.

Damen Shipyard, Hardinxveld has been contracted to build two tugs to the same basic design but incorporating Hybrid propulsion systems. Detailed engineering design has been completed for production and steel fabrication commenced in July at Damen Shipyard Gdynia, subcontracted to Safe Co Ltd. The first hull is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Trials should commence in the spring of 2014 with delivery to follow in early summer. The second tug will follow approximately three months later.

The Hybrid propulsion system will be similar in configuration to that installed in RT Adriaan, incorporating an AKA XeroPoint Hybrid power management system. Similar 500kW motor/generators will be used and two 39kW banks of Corvus Lithium Polymer batteries.

Electrically powered towing winches will be installed, obviating the need for a deck hydraulics system.

Technical Specification:

Length overall: 31.95m

Beam: 12.6m

Draft: 6.31m

Power: 3 Caterpillar 3512C at 1,765kW each

Speed: 12.5 knots

Bollard pull: 80 tonnes