Jensen Debuts New Tractor Tug Design
Crowley Maritime Corp.’s Seattle-based naval architecture and engineering firm, Jensen Maritime, reports it has designed a new tractor tug for Vessel Chartering LLC that features some of the first Tier IV engines meeting higher federal air emissions standards among U.S. tugboats.
The multipurpose tractor tug, engineered to support ship escorts, assists and towing, was jointly developed by Vessel Chartering LLC and Jensen and is being built by JT Marine of Vancouver, Wash. The tug is planned for delivery in the second quarter of 2017 to Vessel Chartering LLC., a wholly owned division of Baydelta Navigation Ltd.
According to the designer, the new 110-foot-long, 40-foot-wide vessel will feature the ship assist and escort capabilities of smaller harbor tugs, while delivering the improved towing performance and increased range of larger oceangoing tugs. Escort capability is enhanced to provide support for assisting large, 18,000 TEU containerships due to an increased future demand in West Coast ports of call.
The vessel’s engines meet the federal Tier IV standard, which incorporate the emissions-reducing performance requirements by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). To meet the requirements, the two engines on this vessel use systems that clean exhaust gases after they have left the engines. Jensen Maritime said this tug is the third it has designed with engines meeting the Tier IV requirement.
“The development of the Tier IV engines for this tug demonstrates our commitment to innovative, environmentally friendly design while continuing to deliver powerful, high-quality performance,” said Johan Sperling, vice president, Jensen Maritime. “This tug will meet our industry’s demands for strong, yet nimble vessels with the quality design people expect from us.”
The vessel will be powered by a pair of 3,385-horsepower Caterpillar 3516 Tier IV engines. With an electrically powered, double drum tow winch aft by Rapp USA and an electrically powered hawser winch forward by Markey Machinery as deck machinery, the vessel will be capable of a 93-to-95 short-ton bollard pull. Both winches’ electrical power will remove any chance of a hydraulic oil spill on deck.
The tug was designed without any ballast tanks, thereby eliminating the need for ballast water discharge and the potential transfer of invasive species. In lieu of ballast tanks, the tug will transfer fuel, as necessary, in order to maintain proper trim.
The tug is designed to carry up to 123,000 gallons of fuel, 4,300 gallons of fresh water, and up to 4,500 gallons of urea, which is used for treatment of the main engine exhausts in order to meet Tier IV emissions requirements. A water maker is being installed for potable water when out at sea. A large pilot house will provide all-around visibility, and the deckhouse has an open feel with a large mess and lounge area along with accommodations for a 10-person crew.
