Rotor Tug “RT Zoe”

Container vessels which call at the Port of Hamburg still get larger and larger. In response to that stronger tugboats are being required. As part of its fleet renewal programme harbour service provider Kotug put into service the tug newbuilding “RT Zoe” in the summer of 2006 at the Port of Hamburg.

A pulling force of 65 tons makes it to the strongest tugboat at the Port of Hamburg. It exceeds that of usual tugboats by approx. 15 tons.

“RT Zoe” is a rotor tug equipped with three propellers under the hull. Two of them are mounted amidships and one is mounted abaft. Each one may be turned independently by 360 degrees, which results in exceptional maneuver characteristics for the tugboat. E.g. the tugboat may be swung sideways and is able to assist.

The tugboat is powered by three main engines with altogether 5300 hp. For comparison, a barge tugboat is powered by approx. 300 hp and a usual tugboat for container vessels by around 3000 hp. It is 28,3 m long and 11,7 m wide. Its maximal draught is 5,9 m. Like its three sister ships which are stationed in Bremerhaven and Le Havre it has been built in Singapore. The equipment includes two cable winches and an extensive fire-extinguishing equipment.

For the time being “RT Zoe” remains a single item at the Port of Hamburg. Depending upon development however an employment of further rotor tugs of this generation is not impossible.