Crowley Maritime has enhanced its ship handling services in Puget Sound by chartering a new escort tug from Brusco Tug
Crowley Maritime has started escorting ships into Seattle, Washington state, US, using a powerful new addition to its fleet. It has chartered a Robert Allan-designed newbuilding Hercules from Brusco Tug and Barge to serve Pacific northwest ports, where it will escort ships into harbour and manoeuvre them to their berths.
This 307-gt escort tug was built by Diversified Marine in Portland, Oregon, to a RApport 2500 design, Robert Allan’s latest incarnation.
Hercules is an azimuth stern drive (ASD) tug with an overall length of 25 m and moulded beam of 12.2 m. It has a free running speed of 12 knots and bollard pull of 89 tonnes ahead and 87 tonnes astern.
“This high-performing tug exemplifies our continued commitment to providing the best technology and performance in our fleet of tugboats on the west coast,” says Crowley marine service group vice president Johan Sperling.
“Our customers count on our fleet to be efficient and dependable and Hercules adds another highly reliable asset,” he adds.
Hercules has started services in Puget Sound and is capable of handling operations in Crowley-serviced ports throughout California.
“Technology on Hercules will ensure our customers’ ships get in and out of port efficiently to meet the demands of their supply chains,” says Crowley general manager for ship assist and escort services Porter Sesnon.
Hercules has a full Caterpillar Marine propulsion suite, complying with US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Tier 4 emissions requirements.
This includes twin Cat 3516E main engines that develop 2,240 kW at 1,800 rpm driving Caterpillar MTA 627 azimuth thrusters with 2.7 m diameter propellers, connected by carbon fibre shafts.
Caterpillar also supplied a Cat C7.1 generator set that produces 118 kW of electrical power.
Robert Allan says its design is a “compact, flush-decked and cost-effective ASD, developed specifically for ship assist work in busy harbours. This powerful tug sets a new standard for elegant simplicity in design”. It includes two-person crew accommodation cabins for seafarer comfort.
Hercules has a high-performance Markey winch as part of its deck machinery package for optimal control of escorted ships while they are connected to the tug.
This escort tug has capacity to store 83.3 m3 of fuel oil and 12.9 m3 of potable water.
Hercules particulars
Charterer: Crowley Maritime
Owner: Brusco Tug
Builder: Diversified Marine
Type: escort tug
Country/region: US west coast
Designer: Robert Allan
Design: RApport 2500
Classification: ABS
Length, oa: 25 m
Beam, moulded: 12.2 m
Depth, least moulded: 4.3 m
Maximum draught: 5.2 m
Gross tonnage: 307 gt
Bollard pull: ahead: 89 tonnes / astern: 87 tonnes
Free running speed: 12 knots
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