Robert Allan’s Turkish Tug Connection
For more than fifteen years Robert Allan Ltd. has had tugs built to their designs by a cadre of Turkish shipyards. In that 15 years there has been almost one new tug delivery every month to a Robert Allan Ltd. design in Turkey. To date more than 150 tugs have been Turkish-built, and even in a slightly reduced market this year, compared to the heady days of 2008–2009, there are at least 15 Robert Allan Ltd. designs under construction there today. Robert Allan Ltd.’s first Turkish client was the tug-owner/shipbuilder Sanmar Denizcilik Ltd.
Two New ASD Tugs Ordered and New Pushboat Built
Through the auspices of Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, WA, two Dominican Republic based tug and barge operators ordered one newbuild Ulupinar series sister-tug each from Turkish shipyard and tug owners, Sanmar Denizcilik Ltd. of Istanbul. The first of the two tugs will be delivered from the shipyard in November 2007 and the second in January 2009. The ASD type tugs were designed by Robert Allan, Ltd. and are classed RINA C + Hull & Machinery, Unrestricted Navigation. Principal dimensions are 90' length overall by 30' beam x 13.25' depth with an operating draft of 14.5'. Power is provided by two CAT 3515BTAs developing a total of 3,300BHP to Rolls Royce US 155 propulsion units with fixed pitch props in high efficiency nozzles.