Shipping group MSC’s growing towage division MedTug has expanded its fleet of tugs in Portugal through an acquisition
MedTug purchased azimuth stern drive (ASD) escort and terminal tug Med Antares from Turkish owner and builder Sanmar to operate at the expanding port complex at Sines.
Built in 2019 to Robert Allan Ltd’s RAstar 2800 design with 75 tonnes of bollard pull, its power comes from a pair of MTU 16V 4000 main engines, each producing 2,240 kW at 1,800 rpm driving two Schottel SRP 1515 thrusters with fixed-pitch propellers in nozzles. Med Antares has an overall length of 28.2 m, moulded breadth of 12.6 m and extreme draught of 5.52 m.
Sanmar said this ASD tug has a sponsoned hullform, “which has been proven to enhance escort forces along with the tug’s foil-shaped escort skegs.” Its “roll motions and accelerations are less than half those of comparable-sized tug hulls”.
Med Antares can provide fire-fighting and emergency response in port and offshore through its onboard equipment. It has a remotely operated fire pump with a capacity of 2,800 m3/hr, powered by a dedicated Caterpillar C32 diesel auxiliary, giving Med Antares a fire-fighting capability to FiFi1 class. Deck equipment on Med Antares includes a Data Hydraulic-manufactured DHC 5000 H40, hydraulic-driven, 400-mm diameter capstan.
Med Antares also has a Data Hydraulic DTH 90-135 tow hook with a safety weight limit of 90 tonnes and a Palfinger PK11001(M)A hydraulic knuckle-boom/folding-boom type crane.
Sanmar said crew comfort and safe working were paramount in the design and construction of Med Antares. All engines and essential equipment, including hydraulic pipes, are on resilient mounts to reduce noise.
Accommodation meets the comfort and safety of requirements for European-flag authorities. The captain and engineer cabins are above deck with ensuite bathrooms.
The mess, lounge and separate galley are also above deck, while below there are three double cabins for crew with a shower and laundry.
Sanmar commercial director Ruchan Civgin confirmed Med Antares is the latest tug in the MedTug fleet. It is a “relatively compact, but extremely powerful technologically advanced tug, more than capable of taking on the work of much larger traditional tugboats,” he said.
“Our tug captains were delighted with its performance while it was in our fleet. It is a shining example of cutting-edge design and the latest technology in action.”
This is the second Sanmar-built tug MedTug will operate in Sines as it joins 2017-built Med Altair, with 70 tonnes of bollard pull, purchased in Q1 2021.
Additional towage capacity comes as the Port of Sines builds the new Vasco da Gama terminal, due to be completed in 2024. There are already multiple specialist terminals in Portugal’s largest port.
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