URS introduces Union Warrior – by Jack Gaston

This latest batch of new tugs is part of a series of orders placed with Spanish shipbuilder Armon Shipyards of Asturias, Navia.

The first vessel of the quartet, Union Warrior, is now in service and will operate in West Africa under a three year offshore charter.

Tugs of this new series are very similar in configuration to the well established URS ‘Union Emerald’’ class of 65 tons bollard pull tugs that have been in service in the Schelde ports and North Sea for some time. With an overall length of 40.65m, a beam of 12.70m and a design draft of 5.50m, the Union Warrior and its sister ships are considerably larger. The tugs have a high, well fendered forecastle for maximum protection at sea and are equipped for towing, anchorhandling and fire fighting to Fi Fi 1 standard.

A pair of ABC V12 MDZC four stroke main engines produce a total of 5,200kW (7,065bhp) at 1,000rpm to power Schottel SRP 2020FP fully azimuthing propulsion units. The latter incorporate fixed pitch propellers and are driven via TwinDisc MCD slipping clutch units. A 300kW transverse bow thruster is installed to enhance manoeuvrability even further.

Union Warrior has a certified bollard pull of 85 tons and is equipped with winches and a formidable outfit of towing/anchorhandling gear is installed.

For towing and anchorhandling at sea, a large Brusselle triple drum, waterfall style winch is installed on the after deck. The top drum is designated for towing or handling rig chain and has a line pull of 80 tons at 6.25m/min at the first layer, with a maximum brake load of 200 tons. A 1,200m towline of 54mm diameter steel wire rope (SWR) can be accommodated and two fixed cable lifters are provided to handle rig chain. The centre ‘split drum’ can be used for anchorhandling and harbour towage. One portion of the drum carries 900m of 54mm diameter SWR and the other a 430m wire of the same material. This drum has a line pull of 105 tons at the first layer and a maximum brake load of 250 tons. Two 800mm diameter warping heads are also incorporated. The third (bottom) drum is used for storage and is ‘split’ to accommodate a 1,200m towline, leaving a 360mm portion to take one soft pennant. Two Brusselle tugger winches are also located on the work deck aft, each with a line pull of 17.5 tons, a maximum brake load of 70tons and capacity for 120mm of 32mm SWR.

In keeping with its smaller sisters, Union Warrior is fitted with a combined towing winch and anchor windlass on the forecastle for shiphandling. The winch has a single ‘split’ drum, with a maximum brake load of 200 tons, two cable lifters and two warping heads.

Accommodation is provided for a maximum of 10 persons in four single and three double berth cabins, and the usual facilities required in a vessel for deepsea operation. These include a mess room, galley, bonded store, laundry and store rooms for dry and frozen provisions.

Union Warrior will be joined later in the year by its three sister ships, all bearing traditional URS names, Union Fighter, Union Boxer and Union Wrestler. The next vessel in line, Union Fighter, will be in service in the next few weeks.