Multraship’s newbuild programme well underway

With delivery of the ASD 3212s Multratug 29 and Multratug 30 we can take the opportunity to take a closer look at the two new additions to the Terneuzen based tug owner’s family which will join another ASD 3212 Multratug 19, delivered in 2012. While the hybrid ASD 2810 was built at Damen’s Romania facilities, Multratug 29 and Multratug 30 are products of their subsidiary yard in Vietnam, shipped to Europe as deck cargo on a heavylift ship.

Basic functions of the two new tugs are: push-pull, escorting, towing and fire-fighting operations. They are classed by Bureau Veritas and carry the notation: 100A1 Escort Tug, LMV, UMS, EP, Unrestricted Navigation, Fire-Fighting Ship 1, including tonnage and loadline certificate. They also satisfy national authorisations IVW world-wide and fly the Dutch flag, home-ported in Terneuzen.

Dimension include: LOA 32.7m, beam overall 12.82m, depth at sides 5.35m, maximum draught 5.5m and displacement (98% consumables) 802 tons. Tank capacities are: fuel oil 131.2m3, fresh water 15.2m3, foam 20.7m3, bilge water 6.7m3, sewage 8.9m3, sludge 2.5m3, clean lube oil 8.1m3 and dirty oil 4.2m3.

Looking in the engine room, main propulsion power is provided by two Caterpillar 3516C HD+ TA/D main engines producing a total output of 5,050bkW (6,772bhp) at 1,800 RPM. These drive two Rolls-Royce US255CP azimuth thrusters each with 2,800mm diameter controllable pitch, four-bladed propellers turning in nozzles. The all-important performance figures are quoted as bollard pull 83.2 tons with a maximum speed of 14.1 knots.

Auxiliary machinery takes the form of two Caterpillar C6.6 TA, 230/400V, 125 kVA, 50Hz generator sets. Sterling provide several items of auxiliary equipment including: two AKHA 6101 bilge pumps each with capacity of 34m3/hr; two fuel pumps, AKHA 5101 and AOHA 3101 models and a HBK 111/AOHA 3101 freshwater pressure set. The cooling system comprises box coolers with anti-growth system. Provision for the tugs’ hydraulic systems are via main engine driven pumps, also supplied by the main engines are the two Kvaerner fire-fighting system pumps delivering 2,900m3/hr to two 1,200m3/hr bridge deck mounted monitors.

DOUBLE TOWING WINCHES
At the heart of any tug is the towing winch and in the case of Multratug 29 and 30 ship-handling can be carried out as per standard over bow but also with provision of a towing winch aft. Mounted on the foredeck is a DMS T320 combined anchor/render recovery hydraulic double-drum winch with a rendering figure of 100 tons at 100m/min (second layer) and in recovery mode, 60 tons at 50m/min and 200t brake load. The winch also handles two 495kg Pool (high holding power) anchors. Aft deck is home to a DMS T320 hydraulic towing winch with spooling device and a pull figure 30 ton at 40m/min and 200 ton brake load.

A Mampaey SWL 100 ton towing hook is installed starboard side aft and immediately behind the aft winch is a substantial towing fairlead, mounted on top of which is a Heila HLM 20-3S crane incorporating a Heila MW 22 winch lifting 2,200kg at 8.6m. As is standard with Damen’s ASD 3212 particular attention has been paid to the fendering including D fenders at the vessels’ sides, cylindrical fender at transom corners and double cylindrical bow fender of 1,000, diameter complete with water spray.

Both of Multraship’s new tugs have been provided with a comprehensive outfit of navigation and communication equipment. On the navigation side, JRC supply two JMA-5212-4BB radars (with 19” LCD screens) and the vessels’ compasses are in the form of a Kotter magnetic and an Anschuetz standard 22 compact gyro compass. Robertson supplied an AP-50 autopilot. Furuno have provided much of the wheelhouse equipment including: a GP-150 GPS, FE-700 echo sounder, DS-80 speed log and FA-150 AIS.

The tugs’ capabilities for world-wide operation are reflected in the communication equipment which includes three Sailor Compact 6222 VHF sets, a Jotron TRON TR-20 handheld VHF, Furuno FS-1575 SSB/DSC and two Furuno Felcom 18 Inmarsat terminals. Furuno also supply the Navtex (NX-700A) and concluding the radio provision, Jotron contribute a TRON-40s EPIRB and TRONSART20 SART.

ACCOMMODATION AND LAYOUT
Another indication of the tugs’ capability of unrestricted navigation is in the accommodation with provision for ten persons. Two single cabins for captain and chief engineer are on main deck with four double berth cabins on the deck below. The accommodation area is insulated and finished with durable modern linings, floating floors and air-conditioned/CV heated with acoustical Dampa ceiling in the wheelhouse.

Visually these two vessels follow the convention with Damen’s ASD 3212s, presenting a business-like workhorse at home either assisting ships in ports and sheltered waterways or engaged in seagoing towing assignments. This is demonstrated by the raised forecastle dominated by the render/recovery winch and visually enhanced by the imposing fender arrangement around the bow. The clear and unhindered aft deck has a naturally lower freeboard and is more in keeping with the conventional image of a sea-going tug, the towing winch protected between the twin uptakes.

The wheelhouse is configured for operations over the bow but with full-height windows providing a clear view of the afterdeck. The aforementioned officers’ cabins, mess and galley spaces along with locker space is provided on the main deck below which forward is the remaining accommodation beneath the forecastle with the engine room aft of switchboard and AC rooms. Fire and hydraulic pumps are taken off the fore end of the main engines with the two gensets between and aft of the main engines. Finally, moving aft there is an engineer’s workshop/store aft of which is the azimuth unit room/store.

By Peter Barker