Tug Delivery and order round-up (March 2022)

Turkey’s Sanmar Shipyards is known for its examples from RAL’s tug catalogue with the combination of proven designs and quality build attracting a steady stream of orders for Sanmar. Its first delivery of 2022 sees the Sanmar-exclusive RAmparts 2400SX Halcon III (launched as Bogacay XLVIII) joining earlier delivered sisters Saam Valparaiso, Saam Palenque and Albatros to become SAAM Towage’s first Sanmar-built tug operating in Chile.

Both builder and client speak of the beneficial attributes of the Bogacay class, where along with other similar compact designs a respectable 70tbp is delivered via a Caterpillar/Rolls-Royce main engine/thruster combination on a hull length of just 24.4m (excluding fenders). ABS-classed Halcon III provides firefighting class 1 capabilities, accommodation for up to six persons and carries unrestricted service notation.

Slightly smaller than the RAmparts 2400, the 2200 Sirapinar class variant is another popular design and Sanmar’s first order for 2022 has been chalked up for the 2020-built Sirapinar XV, currently part of Sanmar’s own fleet. The 22m long, 54tbp tug will be joining the fleet of SMS Towage, the UK’s largest family-owned towage company becoming the Hull-based company’s 11^th Sanmar-built tug and its third Sirapinar class vessel operating alongside Pullman and Lloydsman delivered in 2017 and 2019 respectively. Propulsion involves Schottel fixed-pitch thrusters powered by Caterpillar 3512C main engines

Ali Gurun, vice president, Sanmar Shipyards, said: “We are delighted to get 2022 off to a flying start by signing a contract with our good friends and long-term partners at SMS Towage. It is always pleasing when an existing customer comes back for more. Our Sirapinar class tugs have proved extremely popular because of their low-manning operation due to a high standard of machinery automation.”

Another RAmparts class tug, the 2500W variant features in the news that Uzmar Shipyards has deployed its newbuilding Alsancak 20 to Ambarli Port. As well as a tug builder in its own right, Uzmar also operates a private pilotage and tug service at several Turkish ports and this new addition joins nine other Uzmar tugs at Ambarli. The BV-classed, fifi1 equipped vessel flies the Turkish flag and with a Caterpillar/Kongsberg main engine/thruster combination delivers 80tbp and a speed of 12kn.

Looking beyond Europe and again going up the size scale with the RAmparts design two consecutively hull numbered 3200-CL examples PSA Wanda and PSA Vision are joining PSA Marine’s extensive tug fleet in Singapore. Built by Cheoy Lee Shipyards, Hong Kong with hulls from Hin Lee (Zhuhai Shipyard) the 70tbp pair are powered by Niigata main engines with Caterpillar providing two auxiliaries.

The final news is notable in its nature and moves away from RAL’s ASD configured portfolio mentioned above with the Canadian naval architect recording its first entry in the Taiwanese market with delivery of the TRAktor-V series high performance Voith (VSP) tractors Mailiao 1505 and Mailiao 1506 to Formosa Plastic Corporation. They will replace ageing tugs in the current fleet and be operated by its subsidiary Mailiao Harbour Administration Corp providing shiphandling along with security and external firefighting services in the designated areas. Built concurrently at PaxOcean’s Batam, Indonesia shipyard, Covid-19 caused some delays but both vessels successfully completed sea trials and are now at Mailiao Port.

The 31.8m tugs feature a flush main deck with accommodation below and forward of the VSP compartment with additional cabins for master and chief engineer on the deckhouse level. As with the PSA Marine pair, Niigata provide resiliently-mounted main engines with two 6L28HX models each rated 1,897kW at 750rpm powering Voith VSP 28R5/210-2 thrusters forward in tractor configuration with both tugs exceeding the designed bollard pull of 50t and achieving a free running speed of 12kn.

The accommodation is “outfitted to a high standard” for six persons, the deckhouse including an engine watch room, wet room area and galley and lounge/mess area. As well as two double berth cabins, the lower deck also provides two storage spaces while the wheelhouse has a Voith style control console which can be operated for both ahead and astern operations. Other specifications include: beam moulded 11.48m, depth least moulded 4.65m and maximum navigational draught 5.2m.