Tug delivery round-up May 2023

Starting with Damen, the Netherlands-based shipyard follows a build-for-stock approach to tug and workboat construction and the first of three deliveries reviewed here concerns an ASD 2811 Tug, a design towards the top end length-wise of its ‘next generation’ series and built at its Vietnam facility.The vessel, National Energy Resilience, has been delivered to National Energy Corporation (NEC) a subsidiary of state-owned National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago, and is in response to an increase in oil and gas exploration and production in southern Caribbean waters. Its duties will include rig relocations and other offshore operations.

The increasing popularity of alternative fuel and electric propulsion for shiphandling tugs may be regularly reported now but it doesn’t mean conventionally fuelled/propelled versions no longer have a place in an industry keen to develop a green image.

Measures are available to improve efficiency and reduce emissions that by nature of the role are unavoidable, and NEC has opted for a class-certified Damen Marine NOX Reduction System, which makes the new vessel IMO Tier III compliant.

While currently not a requirement in the Caribbean, it fully aligns with NEC’s commitment to promote sustainability in the local and regional energy sectors.

Built to BV class, National Energy Resilience was reclassed with Lloyd’s Register and its notation includes fire-fighting ship 1. Caterpillar 3512C main engines, which provide in total 3,806bkW/5,104bhp with Kongsberg Maritime US 205 Z-drives delivering a bollard pull of 60t.

Damen workboats

Turning to Damen’s workboat range, Dutch tug and workboat owner Herman Sr. BV recently took delivery of the Multi Cat 3313 Bella. Choice of builder for Herman Sr. comes as no surprise with the Barendrecht-based company already operating a fleet including five Multi Cats and six Shoalbuster tugs.

Bella is classed with BV, its basic functions listed as towing, anchor-handling, dredge support, supply, survey and windfarm support; it also meets unrestricted service requirements with the Dutch Shipping Inspectorate.

The 32.8m long, 12.5m wide vessel has a minimum draught of just 1.85m with triple-screw fixed-pitch Promarin propellers turning in Optima nozzles. Power is via three Caterpillar C18 TTA ACERT main engines developing 1,599bkW/2,145bhp and connected to Reintjes WAF 364L gearboxes. Manoeuvrability is enhanced with three fishtail rudders and a 294kW/400bhp bow thruster.

Deck machinery is all-important for workboats and Bella is well-equipped in this department with Kraaijeveld providing separate anchor-handling and towing winches and Ridderinkhof supplying an anchor winch. Two tugger winches are provided by Dromec along with a 25t SWL towing hook from Mampaey and WK Hydraulics towing pins. Two HS Marine AKC 410 deck cranes are included each with maximum capacity of 49.1 tons at 5.74m. Bella has deck space of 200m² and accommodation is provided for nine persons.

A smaller member of Damen’s Multi Cat family is the 1506, and recently Damen Dredging yard in Nijkerk reported joint technical acceptance of the Multi Cat 1506 Tinombala (a mountain) along with the Cutter Suction Dredger 650 Krakatoa (a volcano) by PT Pelayaran Fortuna Nusantara Megajaya, Indonesia.

Technical acceptance of Tinombala was accomplished with help from a 3D remote tour of the vessel and ex-yard delivery taking place at Damen Shipyards Changde, China. Both vessels will operate on a port expansion project.

Other deliveries

Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) has reported delivery by Estaleiro Rio Maguari (ERM) of the RAmparts 2300-ERM tug Svitzer Arthur to Svitzer Brazil, the first of a series of six vessels of the same design under construction at ERM for Svitzer.

The 23m long, ABS-classed compact tug delivers an impressive 71tbp (ahead) via MTU 16V4000M63 main engines powering Kongsberg US 205S FP Z-drives, the specification including a single-drum Ibercisa hawser winch forward.

An eagerly-awaited multiple tug delivery in the pipeline is Sanmar’s five vessel order for HaiSea Marine to operate at Canada’s new LNG terminal in British Columbia. The previous chapter in this story was celebrated recently when all five vessels were named in Turkey (MJ March 2023).

Two of the vessels are RAL Rastar 4000 DF LNG-powered escort tugs and have been named Haisea Kermode and Haisea Warrior, while the remaining three are all-electric RAL ElectRA tugs named Haisea Wamis, Haisea Wee’git and Haisea Brave.

MJ looks forward to examining this significant order further in due course.