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Engine Lube Oil News

17 Aug 2023

False Alarm, Loss of Propulsion Leads to Cargo Ships Colliding

Damaged stern area of the AP Revelin after the collision. (Photo: NTSB)

A loss of propulsion due to a false alarm led to cargo vessels colliding near Port Arthur, Texas last year, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Thursday.While transiting the Sabine Pass on August 21, 2022, the general cargo ship Damgracht lost propulsion when the vessel’s main engine shut down due to “high oil mist density” sensed by its oil mist detector (OMD). Due to the abrupt loss of propulsion, the Damgracht began veering into the path of the bulk carrier AP Revelin.

13 Nov 2020

PSA Marine Takes Delivery of Two New Tugs

(Photo: Robert Allan Ltd.)

Singapore's PSA Marine recently took delivery of two new 32-meter harbor tugs, PSA Marvel and PSA Valkyrie, from PaxOcean Engineering Zhuhai Co.The newbuilds, which follow the PSA Thor and PSA Hulk delivered from the same builder in 2018, are of the same basic design with some improvements, said naval architect Robert Allan Ltd.The RAmparts 3200 ASD tugs are designed for ship assist in berthing and un-berthing operations at ports/terminals, coastal towing operations and in addition are capable of escort service.

23 Sep 2020

Sanmar Delivers Tug Pair to Scotland

Odin of Scapa and Thor of Scapa (Photo: Robert Allan Ltd.)

Earlier this month Sanmar Shipyards delivered a pair of Robert Allan Ltd. designed terminal support/escort tugs to Orkney Islands Council Marine Services, in Scotland. The unique and historical names Odin of Scapa and Thor of Scapa were chosen by a widely supported, local voting exercise launched by the Council in November of 2019. The two 32-meter newbuilds are replacing two of the three tugs currently operated by the owners.The RAstar 3200-SX tugs are purposely designed with…

03 Apr 2018

Lessons Learned from the El Faro Casualty

El Faro wreckage on the seafloor (Photo: NTSB)

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued an alert informing operators of the role that the main propulsion lube oil system was found to have played in the 2015 sinking of U.S. cargo ship El Faro. All 33 crew on board died when the 790-foot El Faro sank close to the eye of Hurricane Joaquin near the Bahamas on October 1, 2015, while en route from Jacksonville, Fla. to Puerto Rico. Loss of propulsion during extremely heavy weather was revealed as a major contributing factor to the vessel’s sinking, according to The Coast Guard Marine Board Report on the incident.

05 Jul 2017

Tug Newbuild Alcor Delivered to Navibulgar

Photo: Robert Allan Ltd.

On June 2, 2017, MTG-Dolphin Shipyard delivered to Navigation Maritime Bulgare (Navibulgar) JSC the tug Alcor, the first of three vessels in series built to the RAmparts 2700 design by Robert Allan Ltd. The tug adds to the fleet of four tugboats in the Navibulgar fleet and is the first tugboat built by the Bulgarian shipyard MTG Dolphin PLC-Varna for the Bulgarian ship owner, who owns more than 30 bulk carriers. The naming ceremony took place on June 2 at Port of Varna and was attended by the Deputy Governor of Varna. The vessel is named after the star Alcor from the Big Dipper constellation.

14 Nov 2016

Robert Allan Designed Tug Delivered to Ocean Group

On October 28th, 2016 the Ocean Group Inc. of Quebec City, Canada took delivery of the 6000 kW ASD tug Ocean Taiga. This icebreaking escort tug joins her sister Ocean Tundra as some of the most powerful tugs in the Canadian registry, part of a new generation of extremely capable tugs, which will provide the highest degree of year-round escort towing capability to Canada’s East Coast and the St. Lawrence Seaway. The Ocean Taiga is the latest addition and a sister tug of the previously delivered Ocean Tundra to the TundRA 3600 series (with a nominal 100 tonnes Bollard Pull) of icebreaking tugs designed by Robert Allan Ltd., Naval Architects of Vancouver B.C. This tug was built to the highest standards at Ocean’s own shipyard, Ocean Industries, on Iles aux Coudres, Quebec.

01 Nov 2016

New Tug Deliverd to Boluda

(Photo: Robert Allan Ltd.)

Boluda Towage and Salvage has taken delivery of the newly built VB Xaloc, the first tug of the owner’s multi-boat order from Astilleros Zamakona and first of Robert Allan Ltd.’s TRAktor 3200-V class escort tugs. The TRAktor 3200-V was designed by Robert Allan Ltd. specifically to meet Boluda’s requirements for performance, propulsion equipment, accommodation facilities, tank capacities and all within a gross tonnage (GRT) limit of less than 500. According to the designer, extensive…

29 Aug 2016

USS Freedom Suffers Casualty

USS Freedom (LCS 1) (Photo: U.S. Navy)

The U.S. Navy's first littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) experienced a casualty to one of its main propulsion diesel engines (MPDE) on July 11 reportedly caused by a leak from the attached seawater pump mechanical seal that resulted in seawater entering the engine lube oil system, according to the Navy. The ship’s crew addressed the leak, enabling Freedom to return to homeport July 13 on her own power for repairs on a separate, unrelated issue. While in port, the crew performed seawater contamination procedures.

14 Jul 2015

RAstar Tugs Selected Again for LNG Terminal Support

The Robert Allan Ltd. RAstar Series tugs are well proven LNG terminal support/escort tugs, in operation at major LNG facilities worldwide, including terminals in the United Kingdom, Yemen, Mexico, Indonesia, Norway, and the United States. Now Smit Lamalco has introduced five new RAstar 3400 escort tugs to the Port of Gladstone in Australia for LNG terminal support with the fifth and final vessel having just safely arrived in the Port. The five tugs SL Curtis Island, SL Quoin Island, SL Boyne Island, SL Heron Island, and SL Wiggins Island are named after local islands and will serve LNG export terminals in the Port. The tugs will be required to escort LNG carriers through an exposed channel which can be subject to adverse environmental conditions, and then assist them safely to the berths.

09 Jan 2015

New RAmparts Tugs for PSA Marine

Photo courtesy of Robert Allan Ltd.

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.

20 Nov 2014

Pair of ASD Tugboats Delivered to Keppel-Smit

Photo courtesy of Robert Allan Ltd.

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.

26 Sep 2014

Two Ramparts Class Tugs for Signet Maritime

Signet Polaris (Photo courtesy of Robert Allan Ltd.)

In the summer of this year, Signet Maritime took delivery of Signet Arcturus & Signet Polaris, the eighth and ninth tugs designed for them by Robert Allan Ltd. of Vancouver, Canada to add to its fleet of 37 conventional and ASD vessels. The tugs were constructed at Patti Marine Enterprises in Pensacola, Florida. The tugs are based on the Signet Weatherly design, but with additional power and higher bollard pull. The vessels are intended for multidisciplinary work including offshore support, towing, ship-assist, ship escort, subsea and rig moves.

17 Sep 2014

Robert Allen Designed Tug Launched in Italy

Turchia next to step sister Norvegia

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.

06 Jun 2014

New RA Tug Delivered to South America

Photo: Robert Allan Ltd.

Bogazici A.S. of Turkey has recently delivered Amapola 1, the first Robert Allan Ltd. designed RAstar3000 tug, to International Offshore Engineering and Development Company, Panama for PDVSA of Venezuela. This new design rounds out the RAstar family of Terminal / Escort tugs, which to date encompasses lengths from 27-39m and bollard pulls of up 120 metric tons. The RAstar Class are a series of ASD terminal support tug designs developed for berthing and unberthing large ships, particularly tankers, at exposed terminals.

13 Jan 2014

Canada’s Most Powerful Tug Enters Service

Ocean Tundra

On December 13, 2013 the 6,000 kW ASD tug Ocean Tundra was commissioned into service for its Owners, Ocean Group Inc. (Ocean) of Quebec City, Canada. This icebreaking escort tug becomes the most powerful tug in Canadian registry, and heralds a new generation of extremely capable tugs which will provide the highest degree of year-round escort towing capability to Canada’s east coast and the St. Lawrence River and Seaway system. The Ocean Tundrais the latest addition to the TundRA 100 series(with a nominal 100 metric tons Bollard Pull) of icebreaking tugs designed by Robert Allan Ltd.…

16 Sep 2013

Maintaining the Ship of Mercy

Africa Mercy alongside at a repair berth in Astican Shipyard, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria for brief annual upkeep period of repairs and modernization.  (Photo credit: © Mercy Ships/Ann Berry)

International faith-based organization Mercy Ships has used ships as traveling hospitals since 1978, providing health services to millions of people from the world’s poorest countries. Gathering praise from figures such as Nelson Mandella, Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush and Tony Blair, the organization and its work have had a vast impact globally with more than 2.42 million direct beneficiaries to date and an estimated cumulative work bill near $1 billion. Funded primarily through private donations, Mercy Ships is now operating its fourth vessel, Africa Mercy.

04 Jun 2013

Control Systems on LCC 20 Saves Fuel, Reduces Workload

Naval Sea Systems Command completed the installation of new control systems aboard USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), April 8, which will reduce fuel usage and crew workload. Engineers from the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division - Ship Systems Engineering Station (NSWCCD-SSES) SSES installed the new control systems on a number of shipboard engineering components and are specifically designed to improve automation on the optimally manned ships. “Military Sealift Command-operated ships like the Mount Whitney traditionally have lower manning levels, therefore being able to operate many systems from one central control unit is essential,” said Matthew Douglass, Auxiliary Machinery Automation Branch head.

10 May 2013

Robert Allan Designs Tug for Rio Tinto

Pilbara Apollo (Photo: Robert Allan)

The Pilbara Apollo, the latest addition to the RAstar 3200 escort tug series was delivered to its owners, Rio Tinto Ltd., earlier this year. The vessel was constructed at Uzmar Shipbuilding Industry Co. in Turkey and will operate at Rio Tinto’s iron ore export facilities at Cape Lambert (Port Walcott) and Dampier, Australia. The Pilbara Apollo is the first of six new RAstar 3200 tugs to be delivered to Rio Tinto as part of this contract. The tugs will assist very large ore carriers in berthing and un-berthing at exposed, open water berths in severe wind and wave conditions.

18 Apr 2013

New Control Systems Installed on USS Mount Whitney

Naval Sea Systems Command completed the installation of new control systems aboard USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), April 8, which will reduce fuel usage and crew workload. Engineers from the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division - Ship Systems Engineering Station SSES installed the new control systems on a number of shipboard engineering components and are specifically designed to improve automation on the optimally manned ships. "Military Sealift Command-operated ships like the Mount Whitney traditionally have lower manning levels, therefore being able to operate many systems from one central control unit is essential," said Matthew Douglass, Auxiliary Machinery Automation Branch head.

14 Nov 2012

PMS 1386: First of Two RAstar 3200 Tugs

PMS 1386

PM Coast Maritime Pte. Ltd. completed sea trials of PMS 1386, the first of two RAstar 3200 tugs to be built by its own shipyard in Singapore. The RAstar class of tugs is intended for operations in exposed areas such as many new LNG terminals where a high standard of sea-keeping is required. With Fi-Fi 1, oil recovery and escort notations, this particular vessel is able to fulfill a wide variety of duties in adverse conditions. The wheelhouse is designed for maximum all-round visibility with forward and aft control stations providing maximum visibility to both fore and aft deck working areas.

31 Jul 2012

Marine Diesel Engine Lube Oil Quantum Leap by Shell

Shell launch Shell Alexia S4, which they claim negates the need for vessels to carry multiple lube oils . Unlike conventional cylinder oils, Shell claims it can be used across a wide range of vessel and engine types, fuel specifications, loads and climates– from the Antarctic to the Amazon to the Suez Canal. This means vessels no longer need to carry multiple oils. Shell Alexia S4 also works effectively at any vessel speed, including slow and ultra slow– especially important to modern ships that have to vary speeds to reduce fuel consumption and meet strict timetables. Shell scientists developed Shell Alexia S4 based on their unique 20 year understanding of oil stress,– the factors which degrade lubricants and stop them working.

27 Aug 2012

Z-Tech 6500 Class Terminal/Assist Tug for ICDAS

The Z-Tech 6500, ICDAS 19 has been successfully delivered to ICDAS Port Operations, by sister company, ICDAS Shipyards. This vessel was conceived, constructed and will be operated entirely in house under the parent company; ICDAS Celik Enerji Tersane ve Ulasim A.S, in Turkey. The Z-Tech 6500 is a unique Class of ship-handling tug designed to provide a combination of the superior handling characteristics of an ASD tug with that of a Z-drive tractor. This vessel design builds on the successful experience of the previous Z-Tech Class tugs built for operation across the world.

28 Sep 2012

Tarua 120: New Addition to Ramparts 2800 Class

In July 2012, Tarua 120 was delivered by shipyard Italthai Marine Limited to her owners, the Port Authority of Thailand. This is the latest of the RAmparts 2800 Class Tugs to be built to this widely accepted design from Robert Allan Ltd., Naval Architects of Vancouver, B.C. and is the first tug to be built to a Robert Allan Ltd. design in Thailand. Working in close cooperation with shipyard personnel, the standard Ramparts 2800 design is customized to meet the Port Authority of Thailand’s requirements for propulsion equipment, accommodations, tank capacities and outfit.