Sanmar double delivery rounds off busy year

The Turkish firm has reported a successful end to 2023 with delivery of two of its popular Boğaçay Class ASD tugs to a returning domestic client in Turkey and a tug owner in Italy.

Mersin International Port is Turkey’s largest container port and operates four tugs, three of which are also Sanmar products. The fleet has now increased with delivery of vessel number five, MIP-5, a Sanmar-exclusive RAmparts 2400-SX MkII design from the drawing board of Robert Allan and described as “the most technologically advanced and environmentally friendly version of the continually evolving class” by the builder.

Designated the Boğaçay Class by Sanmar and known as Boğaçay LIX while under construction, MIP-5 was built with low-manning operations in mind, including advanced machinery automation for optimal efficiency while carrying out conventional ship-handling duties at Mersin port, its wide beam providing greater stability and performance. The vessel has a length overall of 24.4m on a beam of 12m, a depth of 4.48m and overall maximum draught of 5.5m. The two main engines are IMO Tier III compliant, each developing 2,200kW at 1,600rpm and delivering a bollard pull of 75 tons. It also meets fifi1 fire-fighting standards.

Sanmar Shipyards commercial director Rüçhan Çıvgın said: “Our Boğaçay class tugs are very much an ongoing project and the design used to build MIP-5 marks the class’s high point so far as we strive to offer out clients greener and cleaner tugboats. The use of advanced technology mean the two Boğaçay class tugs delivered in the final week of 2023 are the most eco-friendly to date. They also mark the end of a very successful year for Sanmar, gratitude to all those who have contributed to this achievement.”

MIP-5 will join two other RAmparts 2400-SX tugs in Mersin’s existing four-vessel fleet, MIP 2 and MIP 3, this pair providing a slightly lower bollard pull of 60 tons via Caterpillar 3512C main engines developing 3,530kW in total. MIP-4 is another RAL product, a RAscal 1800 described by RAL as a “high-performance but relatively simple line-handling tug.”

Offered in Z-drive, twin-screw or single-screw configurations, the version for MIP has twin 970kW, Caterpillar C32 main engines driving directional propellers and providing 32tbp.

The oldest tug in MIP’s fleet, MIP-1 was delivered in 2010 by Pirlant Shipyard, Tuzla and is an ASD-configured vessel of 24m in length and 9.1m beam delivering a bollard pull of 45t from twin 1,230kW Caterpillar main engines. Associated services provided by MIP include two pilot boats and three mooring boats.

Originating as a small fishing village on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast in the 1800s, Mersin developed into the country’s leading import and export port and was operated by Turkish Republic State Railways until 2007, when operating rights were assigned to PSA-Akfen, a JV between Akfen Holding and PSA International.

The second delivery from Sanmar, which rounded off its busy year, was another Boğaçay Class, RAmparts tug for Rimorchiatori Augusta, who operates harbour and towage services at the Port of Augusta in Sicily. Speaking to MJ, Sanmar said further details of this delivery would be announced in due course.