New Ramparts News

A contract for a new RAmparts 3200-SD tug was recently signed by Robert Allan Ltd. and Asian Marine Services Public Company Limited (ASIMAR) of Thailand for the design for the Royal Thai Navy. ASIMAR signed the construction contract with the Royal Thai Navy on May 25th, 2021, with Admiral Chatchai Sriworakan, Commander in Chief presiding over the signing ceremony.The Royal Thai Navy currently operates two RAmparts 3200 tugs, and this third RAmparts 3200 tugboat will, similar to the previous two tugs…

The Port of Aarhus and UZMAR Shipyard connected May 29 via video conference to finalize a contract for the construction of a new RAmparts 3000 series tugboat for delivery in summer 2021.Denmark's largest container port said it invested approximately 45 million DKK, or roughly $6.8 million, to acquire the newbuild, which will be far more eco-friendly, efficient and powerful than the vessel it will replace. The port cited strength, precision and environmental sustainability as key reasons behind its decision to replace the 40-year-old Hermes, which will be sold once its replacement arrives.

Thailand's shipbuilder Italthai Marine has launched a new RAmparts 3200 tug in Samut Prakan, Thailand.According to a release from Robert Allan Ltd, who designed and developed the tug, this is the second hull built by Italthai Marine for the Royal Thai Navy, the sister of Panyi 857 which was delivered in 2016 and has been successfully in operation since.The launch ceremony was performed according to naval tradition for good fortune and was presided over by Royal Thai Navy Commander in Chief with the Navy Wives Association President as the sponsor.The new tug is powered by twin MTU 16V4000M54 main engines driving Schottel SRP1212 fixed pitch propellers.The fendering system at the bow consist of two rows of cylindrical fender and a lower course of “W” fenders.

Construction will soon commence on the first of a newly designed variant of the RAmparts series of tugs from Robert Allan Ltd., the RAmparts 2300-MM, developed exclusively for Med Marine to be built at its shipyard in Turkey. The new tug will be the first of six vessels expected to be completed within the next 2-3 years, with the leading vessel expected for delivery in late 2017. The signing ceremony for the new contract took place on February 9 at the Med Marine Head Office in Istanbul, Turkey. This venture reflects a longstanding cooperation between Med Marine and Robert Allan Ltd.

The Cao Gang 26 is a new RAmparts 3300 ASD tug designed by Robert Allan Ltd., constructed at JiangSu Zhenjiang Shipyard (Group) Co. Ltd. in China and delivered to the Owner, Cao Fei Dian Port in Northern China in November 2016. On trials, the vessel met or exceeded all performance expectations, producing bollard pull astern of 60.5 metric tons and a free running speed ahead of 13.5 knots. The vessel has been outfitted to the highest standards for a maximum crew complement of 14, the designer said.

The Cao Gang 26 is a new RAmparts 3300 ASD tug designed by Robert Allan Ltd., constructed at JiangSu Zhenjiang Shipyard (Group) Co. Ltd. in China and delivered to the Owner, Cao Fei Dian Port in Northern China in November 2016. The vessel has been outfitted to the highest standards for a maximum crew complement of 14. The Master’s and Chief Engineer’s cabins are located on the main deck, and two six-person cabins are located on the lower accommodation deck. Also included are common W/C’s on the main and lower accommodation decks. The deck machinery consists of a ship assist hawser winch and a pair of independent anchor windlasses on the bow.

A new ASD tug designed by Robert Allan Ltd. was launched on April 26, 2016 in Jiangsu Province, China for its Peruvian owners. Based on Robert Allan Ltd.’s RAmparts 2400W class, the Chincha was built by Jiangsu Wuxi Shipyard and fully customized to meet her owner’s requirements. Chincha is the first of two RAmparts 2400W tugs to be built for the growing Peruvian maritime and port operations company, Trabajos Marítimos S.A. (Tramarsa). Tramarsa has been in business since 1990 and operated harbor tugs built to Robert Allan Ltd. designs since 2000.

A year after PSA Marine, Singapore took delivery of Rubicon, its first ever RAmparts 3200CL tug from Cheoy Lee Shipyards, Hong Kong in December 2013, the same builder has now put four more similar tugs, OLNG Sur, OLNG Seeb, OLNG Masirah and OLNG Muttrah into the hands of PSA Marine Qalhat SAOC. These tugs are similar to their predecessors in this design series, with modifications to suit the owner's requirements for operations at the LNG terminal in the Port of Qalhat in Oman.

The ASD tugs KST Passion and KST Pride were were delivered to their owner, Keppel-Smit Towage Pte. Ltd of Singapore in October 2014. The two vessels are the first in the new RAmparts 3300AV series of tug designs by Robert Allan Ltd., and were constructed at the AVIC Zhenjiang Shipyard Marine Pte Ltd., Singapore at its facilities in China. On trials, both vessels met or exceeded all performance expectations, with KST Pride producing an average ahead bollard pull of 71.5 tons and achieving a maximum speed of 14.03 knots.

Rimorchiatori Riuniti bolsters Porto di Genova fleet with another Robert Allan Ltd. Rimorchiatori Riuniti currently operates five Robert Allan Ltd. designed tugs in its Porto di Genova fleet, including two AVT 2700 harbor escort tugs (Svezia and Inghilterra), one AVT 3600 offshore towing and escort tug (Messico) and two RAmparts 2,400W ASD harbor tugs (Norvegia and Spagna). The company has recently bolstered its Genova fleet with a new RAmparts 2400SX, 70 metric tons bollard pull tug, built by Sanmar Shipyard in Turkey.

Signet Maritime Corporation contracts Patti Marine Enterprises, Inc. in Pensacola, Florida, to construct tow Robert Allan designed tugs. Construction commenced in November 2012 with an expected delivery of December 2013 for the first vessel and March 2014 for the second vessel. Continuing the longstanding Signet tradition of naming vessels in honor of America’s Cup winners, the new RAmparts 3200 ASD tugs will be named M/V Signet Intrepid and M/V Signet Vigilant. These vessels…

Signet Maritime Corporation continues to expand its diverse fleet by awarding a contract for the construction of two Robert Allan Ltd. designed tugs to Patti Marine Enterprises, Inc. in Pensacola, Florida. This marks the ninth Signet/Robert Allan Ltd. design in 5 years. Construction commenced in November 2012 with an expected delivery of December 2013 for the first vessel and March 2014 for the second vessel. Continuing the longstanding Signet tradition of naming vessels in honor of America’s Cup winners, the new RAmparts 3200 ASD tugs will be named M/V Signet Intrepid and M/V Signet Vigilant.

The Al Fenci and Al Durrah, the first two new RAmparts 3200 tugs have been successfully delivered to Abu Dhabi Ports Company by Grandweld Shipyards. The vessels are specially designed to assist in marine and Harbour operation at Khalifa Port including escorting & towing, mooring/unmooring, and fire-fighting operations. The design is based on an intended low-manning operation, with a high standard of machinery automation. Particular attention has been paid to the crew comfort, with high levels of noise and vibration control. This is has been certified by ABS with the HAB notation for workboats.

Early in 2012, Cheoy Lee Shipyards, Hong Kong, was awarded a contract from a South American client for three new RAmparts 3200CL class tugs. This marks a significant milestone for the popular RAmparts 3200 design as the order includes the 100th tug to be delivered to this design. There are few designs in the world workboat market to achieve this milestone in such a short time. The RAmparts 3200 design originated from a Robert Allan Ltd. internal R&D program back in the early 2000’s.

Signet Weatherly is the latest RAmparts 3200 Class ASD from the design board of Robert Allan Ltd. Recently delivered to her proud owner; Signet Maritime Corporation, the tug will be based in Corpus Christi, Texas. Named after the 1962 America’s Cup winning 12 metre yacht “Weatherly”, the new vessel will enhance Signet’s Gulf operations, providing ship-assist capabilities along with long range towing. The RAmparts 3200 design is configured for low-manning operation, with a high standard of machinery automation.

In November 2011, Tug Malta Limited, a subsidiary of Rimorchiatori Riuniti of Genoa, Italy, took delivery of the tug St Elmo, the latest RAmparts 3000W Class tug designed by Robert Allan Ltd. of Vancouver, Canada. The vessel was built by Astilleros Zamakona of Spain in their Pasaia Shipyard. The tug will be based in Malta and brings Tug Malta's fleet to a total of eight tugs. This additional new vessel further modernizes the fleet after the recent delivery of the Robert Allan Ltd. designed Voith tractor Spinola in July 2009.

The new tug Yong Gang Tuo 29 has recently been delivered to her owners, the Ningbo Port Group of China. This is the 7th Robert Allan Ltd. design in Ningbo's fleet and the first of the RAmparts 3300 class worldwide. The design is an evolution of the RAmparts 3200 class vessels already in Ningbo's fleet, and is a result of a recognized need to increase power and bollard pull to meet the expanding requirements of the larger ships visiting the port. Hence this new RAmparts 3300 design is one metre longer than the earlier tugs designed for this Client…

In August the RAmparts 2500W tug Norvegia was delivered by Astilleros Armon of Navia, Spain to owners, Rimorchiatori Riuniti in Genoa, Italy. Shortly afterward in early September, the second vessel of Rimorchiatori Riuniti's two boat order, the Spagna, was delivered. The RAmparts 2500W is a new variation on Robert Allan Ltd's standard RAmparts 2500 design. It was developed in collaboration with Rimorchiatori Riuniti who were looking for a compact, yet powerful shipdocking tug for their operations in the historic and busy port of Genoa.

For several years Sanmar Denizcilik Makin eve Ticaret Ltd., of Istanbul, Turkey have been building a successful line of RAmparts 3200 Class tugs, to a design by Robert Allan Ltd., Naval Architects of Vancouver, B.C. In 2007 the Norwegian owners, Østensjø Rederi AS approached Sanmar with a requirement for a very similar tug to this standard 105 ft RAmparts 3200 Class tug, but with higher power and a demanding suite of outfit. This requirement led to a close collaboration between owner…

In late December, 2008 Shipco Marine Constructors Ltd. of Whangarei, New Zealand delivered the first of two new terminal support tugs, the Pilbara Thor to the Owners, Rio Tinto of Australia for service at the Pilbara ore terminal near Dampier, Australia. The vessel entered service in January. The Pilbara Thor is the latest of the RAmparts 3200 Class tugs to be built to this widely accepted design from Robert Allan Ltd., Naval Architects of Vancouver, B.C. Robert Allan Ltd. worked with the Owner's representatives, Trevor Cosh of Trevor Cosh and Associates Pty Ltd.

Boston Towing and Transportation Company has taken delivery of the first of a new pair of tugs designed by Robert Allan Ltd., Naval Architects of Vancouver, B.C., for offshore LNG Terminal support for the Neptune LNG LLC, Deep Water Port, offshore Massachusetts Bay. The M.V. Justice is the smaller of the two tugs. It is a modified RAmparts 3000 Class tug which will primarily be engaged in harbour duties, but will serve as the back-up for the larger tug (the ASD 39/70 Class Independence) during the latter's service periods.

In 2005, Robert Allan Ltd will celebrate its 75th year of continuous business as a firm of Consulting Naval Architects. From its base in Vancouver, the company serves the international marine community with a wide range of specialized workboat designs, as it has done since its inception, through three generations of family ownership. The company has experienced considerable growth in the past decade, and currently has more than 30 vessels to its designs under construction around the world, including a myriad of high-performance tugboats of all types, fireboats, crewboats, patrol craft, ferries, and barges. The following are some highlights of current Robert Allan Ltd. projects that will be delivered in the early months of 2005.