Med Marine is providing a steady stream of news of late reporting two additions to its fleet of tugs and an agreement to build a new design of tug.

Turkish shipyard Med Marine has an agreement with Canadian naval architect Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) for construction of its range of tugs developed around the yard’s particular production facilities and potential markets, marketed as ‘exclusive’ designs by the shipyard.

As well as a shipbuilder, Med Marine is also a tug operator in its own right providing pilotage and mooring services in Turkey’s busiest ports and the first delivery to mention involves another tug for Gemport for operation in Gemlik Port in the Sea of Marmara.

Gemport belongs to Yildirim Group of Companies’ subsidiary Yilport Holding and the latest delivery follows a recently delivered 18m conventional tug from Med Marine. In this case the tug, built as the Med XXVI and now bearing the name Uludağ Y is a RAmparts 2300-MM ASD design of 23m length and 10.9m beam outfitted for both harbour and terminal operation.

Twin Caterpillar 3512C main engines develop a total output of 2,760bkW at 1,600rpm driving Schottel SRP340 azimuthing thrusters with 2,100mm diameter fixed-pitch propellers producing a respectable 50tbp and speed 12kn for a compact vessel of this size.

Caterpillar also provide auxiliary power in the form of two C4.4 gensets each supplying 86ekW for vessel services including the deck machinery. A firefighting pump driven off the main engines delivers 1,400m3/hr to two electrically controlled fire monitors.

THR Marine supplied an electric frequency-controlled towing winch with a split-drum, warping head and electric anchor capstan suitable for 20.5mm stud link chain. The forward towing winch is custom made for Med Marine with a pulling force of 300kN and brake holding force of 1,300kN.

The RAmparts 2300-MM design are compliant with MLC rules with high-quality accommodation for five crew in two single and two double cabins. Classed by RINA Uludağ Y meets the notation: C+HULL +MACH +AUT-UMS, Fire-fighting ship E with water spray, Unrestricted Navigation, Greenstar 3, MLC Design.

Around the same time, Med Marine announced it had signed a new design contract with RAL for RAstar 3200-W series ASD tugs, a version from RAL’s catalogue offering substantially more power that the Uludağ Y mentioned above.

The tugs will offer a bollard pull of between 85 and 90 tonnes and be capable of shiphandling roles including: berthing, unberthing and escort duties in normal and heavy weather conditions. Main particulars include LOA 32m, beam (moulded) 13.2m, depth (moulded) 5.45m, maximum draught 6.1m, speed 13kn, fuel oil capacity 190m3 and fresh water capacity 40m3.

Accommodation will be provided for either eight or 10 persons and further details including the list of equipment suppliers and class notations are due to be announced in due course.

The final snippet of news from Med Marine concerns delivery of another RAL-designed tug, Caño Cristales to its new owners in Colombia, Coltugs Towage & Salvage, this example being to a RAmparts 3200 design.

With a length overall of 32m on a beam of 11.6m, loaded draught of 4.19m and of 476.2gt Caño Cristales is powered by two Caterpillar 3516C main engines developing 4,200kW (5,632bhp) in total and driving Schottel SRP1515 azimuthing thrusters with controllable-pitch propellers of 2,600mm diameter. Performance figures include a bollard pull of over 75 tons and speed of 12kn.

Fire-fighting pumps are driven by the main engines, delivering approximately 2,600m3/hr while on deck THR Marine supplied an electric frequency-controlled escort winch forward with integrated anchor windlasses. Once again the MLC compliant high-quality, climate-controlled accommodation includes a captain’s cabin, an officer’s cabin and three double-crew cabins.

The well-appointed wheelhouse is spacious enough to allow full access around the standard twin console layout with a centre captain’s chair on a rail. The rear of the wheelhouse has a large chart table to port and a stairway (overlooking the after deck) leading down to the main deck with additional electronic equipment located at a lower wheelhouse level overlooking the after deck halfway down the stairway making maximum use of the space.

Caño Cristales is classed by RINA and carries the notations: +TUG +AUT-UMS, Unrestricted Navigation, Fire-Fighting ship 1, Water Spraying, MLC Design, Greenstar 3, Escort Tug, Oil Recovery, Salvage Tug.

By Peter Barker