Harbour developments and the increasing size of ships berthing at Mediterranean ports has led to an Italian tug owner purchasing a new towage vessel
Cafimar Group subsidiary Somat has ordered a new tug from Turkish shipbuilder and owner Med Marine, signing a deal for a MEDA2575 model tugboat, which is being built to a Robert Allan RAmparts 2500W design.
This azimuth stern drive (ASD) tug, with an overall length of 25.2 m, top speed of 12 knots and bollard pull of 70 tonnes, is due to be delivered by the end of this year.
“This additional MED-A2575 tugboat allows Somat to offer its services in Sicily with greater versatility,” said Cafimar chief executive Alessandro Russo.
This tug investment comes as Cafimar has successfully overcome operational challenges that group managing director Gian Paolo Russo explained to Tug Technology & Business earlier this year.
Med Marine will fit two Caterpillar CAT 3516C main engines, each developing 2,100 kW at 1,600 rpm on this MED-A2575 tugboat. These will drive two Kongsberg US255SP30 fixed-pitch propellers in azimuthing nozzles.
Med Marine will also install two Caterpillar C4.4 generator sets, producing 99 kW of electrical power at 1,500 rpm and 50 Hz.
This tug will have a THR Marine fore towing winch and FiFi E class fire-fighting system, with a pump and two monitors for foam and water spray at 1,400 m3/hr.
Med Marine has already built and delivered eight tugs of similar design, but with different main engine and propulsion profiles. It also operates MED-A2575 tugs in its fleet in Turkey.
Another Turkish shipyard has started building an ASD tug for a Danish port. Uzmar Shipyard cut the first steel on 3 September for a tug it will construct for Port of Aarhus.
Port of Aarhus captain Knud Erik Østerberg Hansen initiated the first weld during a ceremony at the shipyard.
This will be a RAmparts 3000 ASD tug, to be named Hermes, with around 65 tonnes of bollard pull. It will replace an elderly tug, also named Hermes, operating in the port with 20 tonnes of bollard pull.
Uzmar will include two main engines, each rated at 2,013 kW, and a mechanic-hybrid propulsion unit. This tandem mode will reduce fuel consumption and operating costs and provide a level of propulsion redundancy.
Hybrid propulsion, engine capabilities and new engineroom technology will be presented during Riviera’s Marine Propulsion Webinar Week, from 30 September, use this link for more details and to register
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