Sanmar six for Svitzer

This edition of MJ reports in detail on the delivery of five Robert Allan Ltd terminal escort tugs by Sanmar for Smit Lamnalco and this latest order is of a similar nature in scale. The Smit Lamnalco batch were RAstar 3400 Class vessels, the Svitzer vessels will be RAstar 2811-E Class ASD tugs and are being built to fulfil Svitzer’s commitment to current and upcoming new contracts in various terminal towage markets. The first vessel is expected to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2016.

They will be classed as terminal tugs with escort capabilities and early preliminary information states that power will be provided by twin MTU 16V4000M63 engines rated at 2,000kW each (with a central cooling system) producing a bollard pull of 70t. Propulsion will be via twin Schottel SRP 1515 azimuth thrusters. Deck equipment includes a DMT double-drum render winch and the tugs will be purpose built for hot climates and fully prepared for fifi1 fire-fighting notation with water spray. Accommodation will be provided for eight crew members.

This latest development follows a trend of batches of similar or identical terminal escort tugs being ordered to satisfy specific terminal contracts and Kristian Brauner, Chief Technical Officer of Svitzer states: “We have placed an order for six ASD tugs to fulfil Svitzer’s current and upcoming new contracts. These new tugs are key elements in fulfilling our profitable growth strategy” adding: “Sanmar was selected due to their outstanding safety performance and construction quality, and a competitive price. We are very much looking forward to the tugs being completed and deployed in our fleet.”

Also on behalf of Svitzer, Kasper Friis Nilaus, Chief Commercial Officer states: “The vessels will support our ambitious growth strategy by delivering versatile, quality tugs that will give us an edge when competing for contracts particularly in the growth markets where we have several opportunities in the pipeline.”

Sanmar are a shipyard clearly in the ascendency with the building of tugs and have a strong relationship with the designs of Robert Allan Ltd including an exclusive ‘SX’ Sanmar designated version of one of their series. Earlier this year, the yard announced the construction of a new 50,000m2 shipyard at Altinova.

For Sanmar, Ali Gürün, Member of Board said: “We are proud to be the winner of this tender which required hard work, commitment and dedication of all our team. We are very much looking forward to utilising Sanmar’s expertise with Svitzer’s experience. This project is a good example of building and delivering high quality tugs with top level health and safety standards but with competitive prices; but still built in Europe.”

By Peter Barker