Sanmar Shipyards and Schottel are extending a partnership dating back 16 years following a framework agreement to supply thrusters for the Turkish yard’s Bigaçay class newbuilding tugs.
The agreement sees the German propulsion manufacturer becoming exclusive supplier of 2,700kW type SRP 560 CD thrusters for 90tbp variants of Sanmar’s Bigaçay class tug, a high-performance compact variant of Robert Allan Ltd’s (RAL) RAstar 2900SX (Sanmar exclusive) escort-rated tug. The framework agreement is valid for two years.
Collaboration between the two companies dates to 2004 and includes orders for Schottel systems for Sanmar’s Sirapinar class of ASD terminal tug, 17 of which are now in operation including as one example for Svitzer of Denmark, Stefan Kaul, Schottel’s CEO stating: ‘This trusted partnership is going from strength to strength.’
In line with the agreement, Sanmar recently awarded Schottel a contract involving SRP 560 SP thrusters for two high-spec 90tbp RAstar 2900SX tugs for the Turkish Directorate General of Coastal Safety in what promises to be significant new arrivals for 2021. Sanmar and Schottel are also in the project planning phase for fitting hybrid tugs with the latter’s Rudderpropellers.
The Bigaçay class RAstar 2900SX is one of Sanmar’s latest additions to its RAL-designed portfolio and comes with two power output options, 80tbp and 90tbp. They share similar main dimensions of 29.4m LOA on a moulded beam of 13.3m, variations between the two including (for the 80tbp and 90tbp models respectively): extreme draught 6.2m and 6.3m, main engines 2x2525kW and 2x2,700kW and fuel capacities of 174m3 and 169m3, ahead speed for both versions is 12.5kn.
The escort/offshore terminal tug designation of the RAstar class relates to its design which incorporates a sponsoned hull form (developed exclusively by RAL) which in both model and full-scale testing has been proven to ‘significantly enhance’ escort towing and seakeeping performance. Escort forces are enhanced by the sponsons and foil-shaped escort skeg forward. Roll motions and accelerations are also reported to be significantly less than that of comparable sized, standard wall-sided tug hulls.
Three of the 80tbp marques (Svitzer Sohar, Svitzer Shinas and Svitzer Saham) have now been delivered by Sanmar to Svitzer Middle East Ltd for operation at the port of Sohar in Oman, these examples are powered by Kongsberg thrusters.
By Peter Barker
