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.
Four New Tugboats for Burrard Inlet
According to a Sept. 29 report from BIV Business Today, a new set of state-of-the-art tugboats will ply the waters of Burrard Inlet next year, Seaspan International Ltd. announced. The North Vancouver company recently signed a contract with Turkey’s Sanmar Denizcilik Shipyard to build four ship assist tugs, the largest build commitment of a single class of vessels for the company in more than three decades. Vancouver-based naval architects Robert Allan Ltd. designed the RAstar 28m tugs. (Source: BIV Business Today)
Hydralift Skeg Use Gaining Speed
A device that increases the efficiency of barges is gaining in popularity on the West Coast, especially for Seattle to Alaska and Southeast Alaska runs. Many people report that Hydralift skegs substantially increase the efficiency of towed barges. This results in either increased towing speed or reduced fuel consumption because the horsepower required to tow at the same speed decreases. The Lynden Companies, Alaska Railbelt Marine (ARM) and Alaska Marine Lines (AML), have several barges with Hydralift skegs and another currently under construction. They are using the barges on Seattle to Alaska runs and runs within Southeast Alaska. Western Towboat Company, Inc., which does all the towing for ARM and AML, has two gravel barges with Hydralift skegs themselves.
