Multraship takes delivery of new multipurpose tug

Multraship managing director Leendert Muller said, ‘Demand for reliable towage services in the North Sea is strong and we are pleased that we have expanded our fleet of modern vessels with the delivery of

Multratug 17

.’

Multratug 17 is one of two similar tugs purchased on the slipway from the Vega Shipyard in Bandirma, Turkey. The new vessel is 35.7m in length overall, with a moulded beam of 11.50m, and a maximum draft of 4.35m. A multi-role capability includes shiphandling and harbour duties, escort and sea towage, full fire-fighting and salvage roles. Bureau Veritas class notations include fire-fighting to FiFi 1, salvage, escort towage and oil recovery.

This tug has a very similar Caterpillar/Schottel propulsion system to the Kotug vessels previously described, in this case delivering a bollard pull ahead of 70 tons, a maximum speed of 13 knots and a range of 2,000 miles. An electrically driven bow thruster of 150kW is fitted to give the vessel additional manoeuvrability.

Multratug 17 has a single drum towing winch forward and a double drum winch aft, both from Data Hydraulics. The powerful aft winch, a Data DTW20x110 H2 intended for sea towing, has a brake holding capacity of 110 tons on the first layer. Both drums are capable of accepting 1,100m of 52mm diameter steel wire towline. A stern roller with a 130 tons safe working load is installed along with Data Hydraulics DTH 65-130t tow pins.

Multraship’s new tug started work straight away, going on charter to Offshore Marine Contractors. Initially, it will be involved in rig moves in the North Sea and next month is scheduled to tow a jack-up platform from Rotterdam to the Robin Rigg wind park in the Irish Sea. The sister ship, already allocated the name Multratug 18 and scheduled for delivery later in the year, will be identical in most respects but will be fitted with ABC main engines.