First new tug for Shetland is launched – by Jack Gaston

Both vessels are under construction in Spain at the Union Naval Valencia (UNV) shipyard and are reported to be on time and to budget.

An order was placed with UNV under a fixed price contract, at a reported value of £14m for tugs to replace two existing vessels. Solan, the first of the pair, was launched in Valencia on 17 December and sister ship Bonxie will follow shortly.

In keeping with four of the present fleet, the new vessels will be tractor tugs employing Voith Schneider cycloidal propulsion units. The tugs will have a high forecastle to ensure good seakeeping qualities and measure 40m in length, with a beam of 14m and maximum draft of 6.4m. Design and construction complies with Lloyds Register class; LRS +100A1 Escort tug, (pt) +LMC, UMS. An important feature will be the ability to provide escort services using a purpose built electrically powered escort winch with a maximum brake holding capacity of 400 tons and automatic ‘render and recover’ control when required.

Each vessel will have two MAN 9L27/38 diesel main engines, each rated at 2,999kW at 800 rpm for a total of approximately 8,150 horsepower. Power will be transmitted to a pair of Voith Schneider 36R5-250-2, five blade propulsion units with a blade orbit of 3.6m. This propulsion system is expected to produce a bollard pull of at least 70 tons.

The port of Sullom Voe is a major deep water harbour owned and operated by Shetland Islands Council. Sullom Voe Harbour Authority operates a tug fleet of five vessels to serve shipping in the area, including very large tankers and LPG traffic. The existing fleet comprises the tractor tugs Tystie, Dunter, Tirrick and Shalder and the twin screw Stanechaaker. No decision on which vessel will be replaced has yet been announced.