Sanmar deliver three specially adapted tugs to Lamnalco – by Jack Gaston

The tugs were built and adapted specifically for use at the CPC offshore terminal in the Black Sea near the Russian port of Novorossiysk. Named, Lamnalco Berkut, Lamnalco Fregat and Lamnalco Yastreb, the vessels are of the increasingly popular Sanmar ‘Ulupinar’ class, designed by Robert Allan Ltd for production by Sanmar. All three tugs were delivered on time by the end of last month.

This identical trio of 24m azimuthing stern drive (ASD) tugs have a bollard pull of 45 tons and have been configured specifically to support Lamnalco’s 10 year contract for the operation and maintenance of Single Point Moorings at the CPC Offshore Terminal. The tugs provide berthing, unberthing, escort and tow back assistance for all tankers calling at the terminal’s two Single Point Moorings (SPMs). Additional tasks include maintenance, fire fighting and oil spill response duties. Lamnalco is a global provider of towage and associated marine services to the oil and gas terminal industry.

Although the basic specification was almost identical to a standard Sanmar ‘Ulupina’ (ASD 24/40 series) tug, Lamnalco requested a number of modifications and some additional equipment to ensure that the vessel is capable in this application.

The standard ‘Ulupina’ is a highly manoeuvrable ASD tug of 24.39m in length overall with a beam of 9.15m and powered by two Caterpillar 3512B TA main engines generating a total of 3,300bhp. Power is transmitted to a pair of Rolls Royce US 155FP propulsion units to achieve a bollard pull of 45 tons and a maximum speed of 12.5 knots.

Although the vessel is known for it’s outstanding manoeuvrablity, and as a safe and stable work platform, Sanmar were asked to redesign the bow to ensure that Lamnalco Fregat and its sisters would meet the rigorous operating conditions encountered when working in the exposed offshore location during adverse weather conditions. This requirement was met by raising the forward bulwarks and introducing an unusual but effective ‘visor’ like structure to the top edge to deflect spray. A redesigned towing staple was also made necessary by that modification.

Other changes included the installation of fire fighting equipment to FiFi 1 standard, including a self protection spray system, to all three tugs. Considerable changes were required to the engineroom layout in order to install a dedicated diesel powered fire pump and other equipment.

Towing gear includes the use of a Rolls-Royce towing winch fore and aft. The forward winch incorporates a windlass to handle the tug’s anchors, a single towing drum and a warping head. The latter has a brake holding capacity of 100 tons and accommodates 135m of 40mm diameter synthetic fibre rope. The majority of shiphandling and escort work will be carried out using the forward winch, which also incorporates a rope tension monitor displaying line tension information in the wheelhouse. A single drum winch fitted aft carries a 40mm diameter steel wire towline of 650m in length, and has the same 100 ton brake load capacity.

Other deck machinery includes a Data Hydraulic DCX 45-90 disc type tow hook with a 45 tons SWL. A Palfinger type PK11001 deck crane installed on the towing deck aft is rated at 11.8 t/m and has a maximum outreach of 7.8m.

Each tug has accommodation for a total of six persons in two single and two double berth cabins.