Class Tug News

Sanmar Shipyards, a leader in the construction of specialized tugboats, has announced the successful delivery of one of its Boğaçay Class tugboats to long-termreturning Italian customer, Rimorchitori Napoletani.The vessel, originally named BOĞAÇAY LXXX, was renamed GARGANO by its new owners. It is a diesel-powered multi-purpose tug designed for demanding operations, including ship-handling, coastal towing, escort, and general duties.Built at Sanmar’s shipyard in Türkiye, the tug is based on the RAmparts 2400SXMKII design…

Turkish shipbuilder Sanmar has delivered a new Ice-Class tug to Finland-based operator Alfons Håkans to work in the waters of the northern Baltic Sea.Named AJAX by its new owner, the tug is based on the TundRA 2600 design from Canadian naval architects Robert Allan and has been uniquely designed to meet the operator’s individual needs.Measuring 25.8 m LOA with a moulded beam of 11.8 m, least moulded depth of 5.2 m and navigational draft of 5.05 m, AJAX can perform multiple tasks including escort…

The U.S. Coast Guard on Sunday located four Russian Federation Navy (RFN) vessels 57 miles northwest of Point Hope, Alaska. While on a routine patrol in the Chukchi Sea, the crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton (WMSL 752) observed the RFN vessels transiting southeast along the Russian side of the Maritime Boundary Line (MBL). The Russian Surface Action Group consisted of a Severodvinsk-class submarine, Dolgorukiy-class submarine, Steregushchiy– class Frigate, and Seliva-class tug. The crew of the Stratton witnessed the RFN vessels cross the MBL into the U.S.

The U.S. Navy’s first Yard Tug (YT) 808 class tug recently delivered to Naval Base Kitsap, Bremerton Annex. Only 17 days after delivery, YT 808 was in the water assisting USNS Richard Byrd (T-AKE 4) as it moved away from the dock at Naval Magazine Indian Island.“Narrowing the gap between delivery and providing operational support is a priority for our team,” said Mike Kosar, program manager of Support Ships, Boats, and Craft Program Office within Program Executive Office Ships (PEO Ships).

Crowley Marine Services Inc. has sold one of its 7,200BHP Invader series tugs, Hunter, to private buyers in Washington.The vessel was built in 1976 and was the 21st Invader Class tug constructed for Crowley by McDermott Shipyard in Amelia, La. The tug measures 136.2’ loa x 36.5' beam x 19.2' depth.Often referred to as the “fastest tug in the Puget Sound” due to its frequent tug race wins at the Seattle Maritime Festival, Hunter is powered by twin EMD 20-645E5 diesels with Falk 4.345:1 gears driving two 132" x 82-88" 5-blade stainless props.

Vancouver, Wash. based Tidewater Transportation and Terminals announced Friday it has hired Johan Sperling as its new Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.Sperling will have direct oversight and responsibility for the maintenance and engineering department, vessel operations, dispatch and terminal operations. Additionally, he will work closely with Tidewater Environmental Services and Tidewater’s Canadian entity, Island Tug and Barge, to support their efforts for safe and reliable operations.

The first of the U.S. Navy's new YT-808 tugs being built by Dakota Creek Industries (DCI) has been outfitted with a sophisticated marine electronics package from Furuno. Mackay Marine selected and installed a comprehensive suite of electronics that will assist YT-808 in fulfilling its ship-handling duties for the full range of U.S. Navy surface warships, barges and submarines. The helm aboard the new vessel includes a 12kW FAR2218BB Radar, DS80 Doppler Speed Log, GP330B GPS Receiver, FA170 AIS, and RD33 Data organizer.

Med Marine based in Istanbul signed a newbuilding contract with Danish operator, Svitzer for two icebreaking tugboats. The design is new in Med Marine’s portfolio, the TundRA 3000 concept a design from Robert Allan Ltd. Once delivered, the vessels will operate across Scandinavia, predominantly serving ports in Denmark and Sweden.The tugs are designed for operations in the full range of ice conditions, and Med Marine’s Procurement & Technical Group Manager Ertuğrul ÇETİN said “It is a great pleasure for Med Marine to experience the needs of different geographies.

New Kāpena Class Tug Ready to Enter Service in Hawaii.The first of four new ocean-going tugs designed by Damen USA, and built by Louisiana-based Conrad Shipyard, has been delivered to Young Brothers – an independent subsidiary of Foss Maritime. The Kāpena Jack Young completed sea trials in Fourchon, Louisiana and was delivered on August 22, 2018. The new twin-screw tugs are 123-feet in length with a 36.5-feet beam and powered by G.E. 8L250 engines rated at 6,000 horsepower. Designed for high stability and maneuverability, the tug has a maximum bollard pull in excess of 83 metric tons and a top speed of 12.5 knots. In addition, the tugs are EPA Tier 4 compliant - the first tugs in Hawaiian waters to meet the new requirements, and substantially reduced emissions.

Robert (Bob) Hill of Ocean Tug & Barge Engineering Corp., of Milford, MA has specialized in the design of AT/B’s for many years. As probably the world's most experienced designer of large articulated tug/barge (AT/B) systems, Hill’s success comes, in part, from a willingness to innovate. Ocean Tug & Barge Engineering Corporation and Robert Hill are the co-inventors of the Intercon Connection System. In a nutshell, his firm has had a hand in over 70% of the operational AT/B’s in service in America – including, 80% of those built or converted since 1994.

Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) has awarded a construction contract for a new TundRA 3600 ice class tug to shipbuilder Gulf Island Fabrication, to be built at their yard in Jennings, La. The SLSDC is a wholly owned U.S. government corporation tasked with operating and maintaining the St. Lawrence Seaway between Massena, N.Y. and Lake Ontario, within the territorial limits of the United States. The tug, which will be based in Massena, N.Y., will primarily operate between the Snell and Eisenhower locks with typical duties including icebreaking/ice-management services…

Crowley Maritime Corp. appointed four industry veterans to oversee the consolidated lines of business under the recently formed Crowley Shipping group, which provides petroleum and chemical transportation, commercial ship management, offshore energy support and ship assist and tanker escort services in the U.S. and international markets. Crowley said the new business unit structure better aligns vessel operations and services with customers, positioning the company for greater growth and efficiency under Rob Grune, senior vice president and general manager.

Offshore Towing Inc (OTI) has completed the refurbishment of its 1974-built 9000hp-class tug Zion Falgout at the Conrad Deepwater shipyard, in Morgan City, La. The milestone project involved the retrofitting of TG100 seals in what marks OTI’s first mechanical shaft seal installation and the largest diameter TG100 series seals ever supplied by Thordon Bearings. An 11.75in (298mm) diameter seal was installed to each propeller shaft of the 66.88t bollard pull twin-screw workhorse.

Abu Dhabi Port Company (ADPC) has purchased two newly built tugs from Sanmar shipyards of Turkey. The new Yenicay Class tugs, based on the same Robert Allan Ltd Rascal 1800 basic design-which are equipped with the latest technology and have a bollard pull power of 30 metric tons, will service both Mussafah Port and Zayed Port and complement Abu Dhabi Port’s existing advanced fleet. Management of these tugs falls under SAFEEN, ADPC’s marine services division. Designated Yenicay VI and VII the first unit will be heading for its new home with SAFEEN within a month…

Italthai Marine, Thailand recently delivered H.T.M.S. Panyi, a Robert Allan Ltd. designed RAmparts 3200 class tug to the Royal Thai Navy. The tug was officially enrolled by Admiral Na Arreenich, the Naval Commander on March 27, 2017 in Bangkok. Panyi was named after Ko Panyi which is a fishing village in Phang Nga, Thailand, notable for being built on stilts by fishermen and is a well-known tourist destination. The name was given by King Rama IX (King Bhumibol Adulyadej) and was marked the last vessel of the Royal Thai Navy named by His Majesty. The delivery of H.T.M.S.

Foss Maritime said its third of three new Arctic Class tugs being built at the Rainier, Ore. shipyard is nearing completion and expected to enter service later this year. The tug Nicole Foss is ice class D0, meaning the hulls are designed specifically for polar waters and are reinforced to maneuver in ice. Like her sister Arctic Class vessels, it complies with the requirements in the ABS Guide for Building and Classing Vessels Intended to Operate in Polar Waters, including ABS A1 standards, SOLAS and Green Passport. Two short videos show construction from April of 2016 to January 2017.

The first U.S.-built Rotortug, ART Trident, has undergone trials and is now in service. Designed by Robert Allan Ltd., and designated as an ART 80-98US, she was built by Master Boat Builders in Bayou La Batre, Ala., and is the first in a series of three being constructed for Seabulk Towing of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The ART (Advanced Rotortug) designation applies to Robert Allan Ltd. designed tugs featuring the triple Z-drive configuration, originally conceived and developed by Rotortug (KST) B.V. of the Netherlands.

On the morning of October 12, 2016, E.N. Bisso and Signet Shipbuilding & Repair (SS&R) Pascagoula, Miss., christened and launched E.N. Bisso’s newest high technology Robert Allan Ltd. (RAL) design tug. Mrs. Deborah F. McDonald, wife of Mr. William H. McDonald, President, E.N. Bisso, New Orleans, Louisiana, was the Christening Sponsor. The GLADYS B, SS&R Hull 109 was launched immediately following the ceremony, and will be delivered on-time and on-budget December 12, 2016. This ASD tug is the fourth RAL design vessel constructed by SS&R, with two new build contracts currently under negotiation.

The Harvey Stone is a Multi-Purpose Field Support Vessel (MPFSV) that will serve as a dedicated field support vessel for the Shell Stones FPSO offshore terminal. Her primary duties will be to operate as the dedicated pull-back tug, in support of, and assisting the berthing, loading and unberthing of offtake tankers of up to 46,287 SDWT. The vessel is expected to escort the above FPSO in the event of disconnection from the submerged buoy mooring for hurricane avoidance purposes…

With about 82 employees, Robert Allan Ltd. is Canada’s most senior consulting Naval Architectural firm, established in Vancouver, B.C. in 1930. The company has earned an international reputation for innovative, successful designs for a wide range of ships and has been a leader in creating cost-efficient vessels for service in the marine transportation industry. Ship Design Robert Allan Ltd. has an experienced, professional staff of Naval Architects and Engineers capable of handling any type of ship design, but the company is best known for tackling the innovative and unusual design problem.

Ex-USS Taylor (FFG-50) was towed from Philadelphia Naval Shipyard to Detyens Shipyard in Charleston, S.C. where the vessel will be converted in preparation for delivery to the Taiwanese government as part of the U.S.’ foreign military sales program. The 33-year-old Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate was decommissioned at NS Mayport, Fla. in 2015, where it had been homeported since 1993. During its service, Taylor, named for Cmdr. Jesse Taylor, a naval aviator who was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously for his heroism in the Vietnam War…

VT Halter Marine, Inc. (VT Halter Marine), a company of Vision Technologies Systems, Inc. (VT Systems), announces the launch of the M/V Frederick E. Bouchard, at its Moss Point Marine Shipyard Facility in Escatawpa, Mississippi on Thursday, March 31, 2016. M/V Frederick E. Bouchard is the second of two 6,000hp Twin Screw Articulated (ATB) tugs constructed for Bouchard Transportation Co. Inc. (Bouchard Transportation) under a two-vessel contract awarded to VT Halter Marine in August 2014. Both M/V Frederick E. Bouchard and the M/V Morton S. Bouchard Jr. measures, 130 feet by 38 feet by 22 feet, are classed by ABS as A1 Ocean Towing, Dual Mode ATB, USCG Subchapter C, and is equipped with an Intercon Coupler System.

Robert Allan Ltd. The new VectRA 3000 Class Tug is a high performance VSP Tractor tug designed by Robert Allan Ltd in close collaboration with Turkish ship builder Sanmar and Voith Turbo Propulsion. The tug is designed for maximum efficiency in the performance of towing, harbor ship-handling and escorting of large ships. Performance has been verified with extensive model tests at the commencement of the design cycle. The unique propulsion arrangement features high speed diesel engines connected to the Voith units via reduction gearboxes with integral clutches.