RINCON Marine, Inc., has taken delivery of its newest addition, anchor handling tug Santa Cruz. The 190 x 44 x 16 ft. vessel is the first of two vessels of this design being built at Eastern Shipbuilding Group, incorporating the anchor handling equipment necessary for servicing the oil rigs in Santa Barbara Channel.
A traditional supply boat layout has been followed, with capacities including 70,000 gal. diesel fuel, 223,395 gal. ballast water, 7,200 cu.ft. dry bulk mud in six 1,200 cu.ft. tanks, 2,016 barrels grade E liquid mud, and 8.650 gal. or potable water.
Santa Cruz has a conventional propulsion arrangement. Main engines fitted are Caterpillar Model 3516B rated at 2,200 bhp @ 1,600 rpm, coupled to Reintjes Model WAF872 gearboxes with a ratio of 6.4:1. Propellers are Bird Johnson 102 in. diameter by 80 in. pitch stainless steel propellers.
To enhance maneuvering, a 515 hp Schottel STT-170-T bowthruster, driven by a Caterpillar Model
3408 diesel engine was installed. This engine also serves as the driver for the 1,600 gpm Aurora six by eight in. offship fire fighting pump and monitor.
Deck machinery for handling
anchors includes one Smatco 72 DAW double drum waterfall winch, one Smatco HT-25-10 five-ton tugger, a Fritz Culver FC-TP-1018 tow pin and one Smith Berger five x eight ft. stern roller. There is a Tecnimpianti Spa model NMR 1.2 SOLAS-approved rescue boat davit equipped to handle the Zodiac rescue boat and its 25 hp motor. Electric power is produced by two 175 kW Caterpillar 3306 generator sets.
Santa Cruz has a service speed of 13 knots, and an economical cruising speed of 11.5 knots. The maine engines meet the stringent California NOX emission standards.