Long and Successful Links: Sanmar Hosts Robert G Allan

Some 200 delegates from all around Turkey attended the Pilotage & Towage Services Technologies Congress in Izmir, an event supported by shipbuilder Sanmar, whose Projects Director Ali Gurun presented a paper about technical specification of modern harbor and terminal tug boats outside of Turkey and the effect of this on Turkish fleet. 

A keynote speaker at the Congress was Robert G Allan, Executive Chairman of Robert Allan Ltd, the designers of the majority of Sanmar's tug and workboat portfolio. 

Before the event, however, Allan visited both of Sanmar’s modern custom built shipyards and was invited by the directors to address the company’s technical personnel.

“His talk to our team was both informative and inspirational,” said Pinar Gurun Korkmaz, Marketing Director at Sanmar.

The relationship between RAL and Sanmar stretches back to 1998, when Ali Gurun first approached Robert Allan for the design of Sanmar I. Since them, some 150 RAL designed tugs have been completed by Sanmar and are operating around the world. Today the cooperation is best exemplified by the news from Aqaba Port Marine Services Company (APMSCO) in Jordan that all seven vessels from Sanmar Shipyards had arrived safely and were performing up to and beyond the highest of expectations. 

The contract comprised four 80-metric-ton bollard pull Terminal RAstar 2800 tugs, two conventional twin screw Rascal 1500 line-handling tugs and a pilot boat, The RAstar 2800 design tugs have been specially modified to suit the requirements of the buyer for terminal services. The four vessels are not only attaining the 80 metric tons bollard pull astern that was guaranteed by the designers and builders but have LNG protection fitted to make the vessels suitable to operate at LNG terminals. All essential electrical equipment is certified ex-proof, suitable for use in a Zone 2 LNG environment.