TUGS & SALVAGE

Bukser Bergings gets its first Rampart 3200

18 years ago

In recent months the popularity of Robert Allan designed RAmparts 3200 ASD tugs has spread to western Europe in spectacular fashion as newly completed vessels appear in Belgium, the Netherlands and now Norway.

BB Connector,

the first of two tugs of the same type ordered from Dearsan in Turkey, was delivered to Bukser Bergings in July. The Norwegian tug company with headquarters in Oslo is well known for its active in-house design team and attention to detail. It accepted the RAL design virtually without change.

BB Connector

and sister ship

BB Coaster

due to follow later are 32m shiphandling terminal tugs built to comply with the requirements of Bureau Veritas class 1+Hull + Mach Tug; FiFi1 unrestricted navigation AUT, UMS, SYS, NEQ1, Escort (50-10).

These examples of the RAmpart 3200 design are powered by two ABC 8DZC main engines producing a total of 5,100 bhp at their maximum continuous rating (MCR). The engines are coupled to fully azimuthing propulsion units with controllable pitch propellers to give precise thrust control without the need for slipping clutches. A powerful 215 hp bow thruster is located in the deep box keel. This propulsion system gives the tug a maximum bollard pull of 65 tons at MCR and a free running speed of 13 knots. The BV escort notation states a line pull of 50 tons at 10 knots when operating in the indirect mode.

Two towing winches are fitted. A single split drum winch with a maximum line pull of 50 tons (on the first layer) and a brake holding capacity of 175 tons is mounted on the foredeck for shiphandling and escort operations. The single drum winch located aft has a line pull of 30 tons, a brake load of 155 tons and carries 1,000m of 51mm diameter steel wire rope. An open stern is equipped with a stern roller and a set of hydraulically operated sharks jaw line handling gear is also provided. A deck crane, rated at 12 t/m, is mounted on the after deck above the winch fairlead. A quick release tow hook is located on port side of the fairlead for emergency or secondary use.

Both tugs are fully equipped for fire fighting to FiFi 1 standards, with two remotely operated monitors at bridge deck level. One monitor is capable of delivering water or foam and the other water. The system has a total capacity of 2,400 cu/m/hour, including a self protection drenching system.

BB Connector and its sister ship will be operated on the spot market and to support terminal operations in Norway as required.