Extensive newbuild programme for Svitzer

One of the latest deliveries, Svitzer Nereid, currently on its delivery voyage to the UK, is the tenth vessel of a series of powerful new escort tugs. All ten are products of the Quingdao Qianjin shipyard in China, a company also responsible for several other vessels in the Svitzer newbuild programme.

The preceding nine tugs of this class were delivered between 2009 and 2011. An initial batch of four were completed for use by Svitzer Peru SA and named Svitzer Chincha, Svitzer Canete, Svitzer Melchorita and Svitzer Pisco and delivered in 2009. Five tugs of the class were built for Svitzer Angola LDA to service a 20 year contract with Angola LNG at a new terminal at Soyo, Angola. All five were delivered in 2011 and named, Svitzer Angola, Svitzer Zaire, Svitzer Soyo, Svitzer Padrao and Svitzer Pinda.

In keeping with the earlier vessels, Svitzer Nereid was built to the company’s S80/33(LNG) design and identical to the preceding nine tugs, with the exception of the winch details and communications outfit. The tug is an impressive Azimuthing Stern Drive (ASD) vessel of 33.3m in length overall and a moulded beam of 13m and draft of 5.6m. A long forecastle is one deck in height and extensively fendered around the bow and sides. An open stern incorporates a heavy duty stern roller. The hull design has been optimised to achieve the improved stability required for safe operation in the demanding conditions encountered during shiphandling and escorting at LNG terminals. Construction and design meets the class requirements Lloyds 100A1 Escort Tug, Fire fighting ship (2,400cu/m/hr) with water spray, LMC,UMS,IWS.

Svitzer Nereid is powered by a Niigata propulsion package comprising two 8L 28 HX diesels driving a pair of fully steerable ZP-41 propulsion units incorporating 2,700mm diameter propellers. The main engines each deliver 2,206Kw at 750 rpm for a total of approximately 5,916bhp. This installation gives the tug a bollard pull of 82 tonnes towing ahead, 72 tonnes astern and a free running speed of 12.5 knots.

Electrical power is supplied by three Norhavn GASI 12-07 auxiliary generators rated at 224Kw – 280KVA, at 400V, 3 phase. 50 Hz.

Dedicated tank spaces accommodate 64.3 cu/m of fresh water, 257.5 cu/m of fuel oil, 162.9 cu/m of water ballast and 16 cu/m of fire fighting foam compound.

Deck equipment includes electro-hydraulic towing winches fore and aft, manufactured in China. A combined single-drum escort standard winch and anchor windlass is mounted on the foredeck. The winch has a brake holding load of 240 tonnes and deploys a 200m towline of 56mm diameter synthetic HMPE fibre, via a unique two stage towing staple. The latter comprises a small fairlead adjacent to the winch and a very wide staple, manufactured from stainless steel tube, further forward enabling the towline to move towards either side and thus introducing a ‘righting’ effect. The winch has full automatic ‘render and recover’ capability and can be controlled from the wheelhouse or locally.

A single split-drum towing winch is fitted and housed inside the after end of the superstructure. The winch has a brake holding load of 240 tonnes and can accommodate 800m of 52mm diameter steel wire rope on one portion of the drum and a synthetic fibre towline on the other if required.

Also installed, on the port side aft is a 10 tonnes capacity tugger winch and a Palfinger Marine knuckle-boom crane, with a maximum capacity of 9.5 tonnes. A Zodiac RIBO 420 P-sling ‘man overboard’ boat is carried above the winch housing and launched using a single-arm davit. The afterdeck has a large, clear work area of 60 sq/m and deck loading capacity of 5 tonnes/sq/m.

The configuration of the wheelhouse and accommodation follows well established Svitzer practice. Navigational and communications equipment is selected to suit the vessel’s eventual role and area of operation. There is airconditioned accommodation and facilities to house a maximum of 10 persons in 6 cabins.

Svitzer Nereid left the Quingdao shipyard bound for the UK on 11 February, via Singapore and Walvis Bay, a distance of 6,000 nautical miles in the charge of a ‘Redwise’ delivery crew of six.

The forgoing is just a taste of the tug building and deployment activities of Svitzer. There are six standard designs being brought into use to suit the various worldwide locations and types of operation the individual fleets carry out.

In addition to the S80/33(LNG) described above is the S65/31 a 65 tonnes bollard pull ASD formerly known as the ‘M’ class; the S75/45 marine support vessel designed for towing and other duties; the S&/35(ESCORT), a Voith tractor for terminal work and escorting; the S70/33 (ICE), a 70 tonnes bollard pull escort tug strengthend for use in ice; and finally the S65/32 (ECO), the company’s ‘Hybrid’ design, incorporating many of the features of the original ‘M’ class but powered by a diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system. Two of the latter are about to enter service, the first is already being commissioned in Fredericia. Watch this space for more Hybrid news.