Sanmar delivers first of four tugs to Aqaba

Sanmar’s client is Aqaba Port Marine Services Company (APMSCO) and the package is intended to deliver marine services to FSRU berthing operations at Sheikh Subah Al Ahmad Al Subah LNG terminal at Aqaba, Jordan. The inauguration of the LNG terminal in May coincided with the country’s 69th Independence Day and saw Hashim 3 (ex Terminal X)and other tugs in operation berthing the FSRU Golar Eskimo.

Tugs & Towing has been reporting on a succession of new tug deliveries, designed and adapted to specific and stringent standards for operating at LNG terminals (and there are more to come). At the heart of this order are four Robert Allan Ltd designed Terminal RAstar 2800 tugs and the Hashim 3 marks the first of this quartet with the second, Petra 3 delivered as this edition went to press. The order also includes two conventional RAscal 1500 line-handling tugs and a pilot boat.

APMSCO have provided pilotage, towing and mooring services since 2007 and this order is on the back of a 10 year contract with the Jordanian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources for provision of marine services for FSRU and LNG carriers of the Jordan LNG Project.

Taking a detailed look at Hashim 3, if this vessel is at the heart of the multi-vessel order then at the heart of the vessel itself is the level of LNG protection included. Sanmar are gaining valuable experience in this field as will be seen in a ‘Vessel Launch’ feature covering a similar multi-vessel order for Smit Lamnalco scheduled for next month’s MJ.

Main features of the aforementioned LNG protection includes: all electrical equipment certified as explosion proof and suitable for operation in a Zone 2 LNG environment, installation of gas detection systems and a “Ventilation Gastight Damper Control System” to isolate the tug from gas leakage throughout the vessel.

Hashim 3 is classed by ABS with the notation +A1, +AMS, E, ABCU, FI-FI 1, Towing Vessel, Escort Service. Main dimensions are: LOA 28.2m, beam 12.6m, depth 5.3m and maximum draught 5.7m with tank capacities including: fuel oil 119m3, fresh water 45.3m3, foam 12m3 and dispersant 12m3.

Propulsion is provided by two Caterpillar 3516C diesels each developing 2,525kW powering two Rolls-Royce US25 CP azimuth thrusters with propellers of 2,800mm diameter. Auxiliary equipment includes two Caterpillar C4.4 86ekW generator sets and performance figures are quoted as 82tbp and speed approximately 14.5 knots.

Accommodation is provided for ten persons, single cabins for master and chief engineer on the main deck and four double cabins on the deck below. Deck machinery includes a towing winch forward and tow hook aft with a knuckleboom crane serving the afterdeck.

By Peter Barker