Rolls-Royce MTU engines destined for Sanmar tugs

Robert Allan Ltd designed ASD tugs built by Sanmar feature regularly in MJ and the strategic partnership with Rolls-Royce will seal a previously successful arrangement which has seen MTU engines and Rolls-Royce propeller systems installed in Sanmar built tugs. Schottel also supply azimuth thruster systems to Sanmar- built vessels.

The RAstar 2800-E ASD tugs currently under construction at Sanmar will be powered solely by MTU Series 16V 4000 M63 and M63L diesel engines and by Rolls-Royce or Schottel propeller systems. Rolls-Royce state that the engines of this series are “extremely efficient” and that in addition to offering low fuel consumption offer low maintenance costs due to high TBO (Time Between Overhaul) figures. They also meet EPA Tier 2, IMO Tier II and ZKR II emission standards. The MTU brand is part of Rolls-Royce Power Systems within their Land & Sea division.

MTU and Sanmar have been working together since 2009 and in 2014 the former delivered four 16V 4000 M63L engines for two Sanmar tugs with bollard pulls of over 70 tonnes. Following on from this another twelve 16V 4000 M63 engines, each with an output of 2,000kW are on order for six more RAstar 2800-E ASD tugs. The first of these tugs, for Danish operator Svitzer is due for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Ekrem Kuraloğlu, Managing Director of MTU Turkey said: “This collaboration is an important step for us. The Turkish tug market is highly competitive.” Adding: “Sanmar Shipyards is one of the leading tugboat builders worldwide. With this agreement, MTU is now becoming a key supplier of Sanmar. We are delighted with the trust Sanmar has once again placed in our engines and services.”

By Peter Barker