Fleet renewals come with green credentials

Owners in southern Europe modernised their fleets with newbuild tugboat deliveries in Q2 2024 with more built to reduce NOx pollutants. Many of the tugs introduced this year have selective catalytic reduction (SCR) units on board to comply with IMO Tier III emissions standards, which are not mandatory for these regions but demonstrate owners’ desire to reduce emissions.

In Spain, Remolques Unidos (RUSA) took delivery of Trheintaycuatro, a 490-gt tugboat built by Armon Group at the Navia shipyard in the Asturias region in early August. It was launched from the shipyard in May and completed sea trials in the port of El Musel, where there is an LNG import terminal, in July. 

This 32-m vessel has a beam of 12 m, two main diesel engines with combined power of 5,120 kW and an SCR for IMO Tier III certification. RUSA says this reduces NOx emissions by 80%, while filters cut particulate matter by 95% and CO2 emissions are lowered by 15%.

Vigo-headquartered Remolques Nosa Terra also welcomed a new ASD tugboat from Damen in Q2 2024. Helechosa was built in China to ASD 2111 design with a length of 21 m, a beam of 11 m and a depth of 6 m, with two Caterpillar engines driving two azimuth thrusters, producing a bollard pull of 50 tonnes and a speed of around 11 knots.

In Italy, Cafimar subsidiary Rimorchiatori Laziali took delivery of newbuild escort tug Pellegron after its construction by Sanmar Shipyards in Turkey, initially as Kocacay IX, to Robert Allan Ltd’s RAstar 3200SX design. This 32-m vessel has a 13 m beam, a 5 m moulded depth, a maximum draft of 6 m and accommodation for 10 crew. 

The twin Z-drive, diesel-powered tugboat can achieve up to 80 tonnes of bollard pull and has a free-running speed ahead of 13 knots. According to automatic identification system (AIS) data, it is operating in Messina and Trapani, Sicily.

Also in Sicily, Rimorchiatori Mediterranei named three newbuild harbour tugs at the end of June – Ortigia, Città di Augusta and Città di Siracusa – built to support ships into the ports of Augusta, Syracuse and others on the southern Italian island.

These azimuth stern drive (ASD) tugs were also built by Sanmar Shipyards to Robert Allan’s RAmparts 2400SX MKII design with a bollard pull of around 60 tonnes and comply with IMO Tier III standards

Tugboat Ortigia is intended for the towing concession of the Port of Syracuse and tugs Città di Augusta and Città di Siracusa support ship handling and docking in the port of Augusta.

Città di Augusta and Città di Siracusa were built in 2023 and Ortigia joined the fleet operated by subsidiary Rimorchiatori Augusta this year as part of Rimorchiatori Mediterranei’s renewal programme

In Turkey, Med Marine launched a new escort tugboat, hull number ER159, at its Eregli Shipyard for Svitzer in July. This 28-m vessel was built as a MED-A2800 series tugboat to Robert Allan’s RAstar 2800 design with a beam of 14 m, a hull depth of 5 m, a draught of 6 m and accommodation for eight crew.

On board, two main diesel engines will drive two azimuth thrusters on the stern, giving this tugboat a bollard pull of 80 tonnes and a top speed of 12.5 knots. A large double-drum winch is installed on the fore deck for ship escort duties.

Greece-based Nemeca Z, a joint venture between four tug owners, has added new vessels this year as part of a €32M (US$35M) investment and fleet renewal programme.

Med Marine built Dias Z at Eregli Shipyard to a RAstar 2500W design, and it was sailed to the Port of Piraeus where a naming ceremony was held. This 25-m tugboat has a beam of 12 m, a forward towing winch and 75 tonnes of bollard pull, coming from twin Rolls-Royce mtu 4000 series main diesel engines with a total power of 3,840 kW, each driving a Kongsberg-supplied thruster.

Tug owners Cafimar, Rimorchiatori Mediterranei, Fratelli Neri and Zouros Group are partners in Nemeca Z, which operates tugs in Piraeus and, in 2023, took over operations in Thessaloniki Port from Zouros Group.

Eregli Shipyard also launched a RAstar 2800 tug for Spanopoulos Group subsidiary Igmar in Q2 2024. This MED-A2875 series, 28-m vessel has 75 tonnes of bollard pull and FiFi1 class off-ship fire-fighting system ready to assist ships in terminals in Greece. It has a beam of 13 m, a hull depth of around 5 m, a draught of 6 m, a top speed of 12 knots and accommodation for up to 10 crew.