Alfons Håkans has taken delivery of the first of two ice-breaking harbour tugs from a Turkish shipyard
Selene was specifically designed for year-round operations in the harsh conditions of the northern Baltic Sea.
Sanmar Shipyards built this tug, part of a pair, using Robert Allan’s TundRA 3200 design and to Bureau Veritas class. “This newbuild joins the Alfons Håkans Baltic Sea fleet to strengthen our services for the recovering trade in our economic area,” said Alfons Håkans managing director Joakim Håkans.
“The first of our newcomers made it through the three-week-long nonstop home delivery from Istanbul to Muuga, Estonia, without any issues, a rather impressive proof of quality in itself,” he said.
“Despite all the challenges and unexpected delays by the pandemic, the build process has been smooth and the co-operation seamless,” Mr Håkans added.
Selene has an overall length of 31.5 m, moulded beam of 12 m and a navigational draught of 5.6 m. It is powered by twin Caterpillar 3516C main engines each driving a Kongsberg US 255 controllable pitch nozzle propeller. These Z-drives deliver a bollard pull of more than 65 tonnes and speed ahead of 13 knots. Selene’s electrical requirements are met by two Caterpillar C7.1 generator sets, each producing 118 kW of power.
Its hull is designed for ice-breaking with strength that is significantly above requirements of the prescribed ice class 1A to ensure safety during ice-breaking operations and to eliminate the possibility of structural damage and shell plate deformation.
Bureau Veritas classed the tug to ice-class 1A for Baltic service, ship escort, unmanned machinery spaces, redundancy of the propulsion system and with an EU green passport.
Selene is fitted with all necessary equipment and fendering for two-directional ship assistance. It will be able to push and pull from the bow or stern.
Sanmar won the contract to build these tugs at its Altinova shipyard in Turkey after an international bidding process. It was Sanmar’s first venture into custom-built heavy ice-breaking tugs.
“This was a significant contract for us, which has seen the expansion of the range of modern technologically advanced tugboats that we offer clients,” said Sanmar president Cem Seven. “We possess the skills, quality of workmanship and advanced working practices to carry out prestigious and complex tug building projects at a competitive price,” he said.
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