Three more tugs for B&B

Each vessel was included in the ‘Five Tugs’ ceremony previously mentioned, two of which are from Sanmar’s popular and proven range of diesel powered vessels.

A block erection and keel laying ceremony was carried out for the largest of the three, Bison, an ASD tug of 75 tonnes bollard pull. Bison is the ninth vessel of the Sanmar Terminal class of fire-fighting tugs, designed by Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) and built to carry out escort and offshore terminal duties. The 28m long hull has a beam of 13.2m and incorporates sponsons and a ‘foil’ shaped escort skeg proven to significantly enhance escort towing and seakeeping performance.

To achieve the bollard pull required the propulsion system comprises a pair of Caterpillar 3516C diesels driving stern mounted Rolls-Royce type US25CP azimuthing propulsion units incorporating 2,800mm diameter controllable pitch propellers. Rolls-Royce will also supply an escort winch with a single split drum, to be mounted on the foredeck. The vessel will have accommodation for 10 persons in six cabins, galley, mess room and laundry.

The second tug of the trio, Baus, will be the seventeenth example of the extremely successful Sanmar Ulupinar series. This compact 24.39m ASD shiphandling tug, with a bollard pull of 50 tonnes, is also built to a design from the drawing board of RAL. Designed for maximum performance whilst working with large tankers and containerships, the hull form and layout have evolved over several years of extensive operational experience. The static bollard pulll of 50 tonnes is achieved by installing a Caterpillar/Rolls-Royce combination of 3512C diesels, each developing 1,500kW, to drive type US205CP azimuthing propulsion units.with 2,200mm diameter controllable pitch propellers.

Although a smaller vessel, the Ulupinar series is renowned for its clever internal layout, making the best possible use of the space available and providing comfortable living quarters for a total complement of six persons in four cabins.

The fifth vessel, as yet un-named, meets a requirement from B&B for a versatile and extremely manoeuvrable 15m line-handling tug. To meet this specification, another RAL design, the 1500 ASD Rascal was chosen. Designed for maximum performance in line handling, shiphandling and related terminal support activities, the vessel will be equipped with a towing winch and staple forward, and heavy bow fendering for shiphandling. A towing bitt and tow hook are installed aft for line handling and general towing duties.

A good indication of Sanmar’s growing workload is an order recently placed with Rolls-Royce for the supply of azimuth thrusters for twelve new tugs for a variety of customers. The shipyard is a regular customer for Rolls-Royce propulsion equipment and this latest order is for three different types of Rolls-Royce thrusters, the US205, US255 and US 25, to be installed on the tugs when construction starts later this year.