Foss is operating the first of a fleet of low-emissions escort tugs at US container and tanker terminals
Foss Maritime, a Saltchuk Marine group affiliate, is enhancing its terminal operations on the US west coast while reducing its carbon footprint with a new series of escort tugs. The first of these newbuildings was named Jamie Ann on 29 February, following delivery from its builder.
Foss has three similar tugs on order to reduce its emissions and increase its towage capabilities in Californian terminals.
Nichols Brothers Boat Builders constructed the tugs, including Jamie Ann, at its facilities in Freeland, Washington state.
They are built to Jensen Maritime’s Valor design as azimuth stern drive (ASD)-90 tugs with ABS’ Loadline certification.
These Z-drive tractor tugs are built to US Coast Guard’s Subchapter M regulatory standards with propulsion complying with US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Tier 4 emissions regulations, says Foss’s naval architect managing the project, Janic Trepanier.
“We are building these vessels to the most stringent emissions standards in the world,” he says. “These were built to satisfy the requirements of the State of California – requirements we believe will soon be required in the rest of the country and the world.”
Jamie Ann has 90 tonnes of bollard pull, ABS’s A1 notations for towing and escorting vessels and UWILD (Underwater Inspection in Lieu of Drydocking).
It was deployed in San Francisco, California, mid-March to enhance Foss’ habour service fleet for escorting tankers and container ships into terminals in the area.
The 31.7 m long tug has equipment for emergency towage and fire-fighting, a moulded beam of 12.2 m and moulded hull depth of 5.2 m.
“In addition to providing flexibility in operations, the tugs were designed with some of the most advanced safety features in the industry, including 204-m3/hr fire pumps and monitors, which will be powered from an onboard generator,” says Mr Trepanier.
The vessels will be equipped with two Rolls-Royce’s MTU series 4000 main engines, Kongsberg US255 azimuth thrusters and Markey winches.
Sister tugs are to be named Sarah Averick, Leisa Florence and Rachael Allen and are scheduled for delivery later this year, at a rate of one per quarter.
Jamie Ann has two MTU 16-valve 4000M65L engines that produce 2,560 kW of power at 1,800 rpm. These engines are linked to selective catalytic reduction systems to reduce particulates and nitrogen oxide emissions to near zero.
Also in the engineroom are two John Deere 6068AFM85 generator sets, generating 120 kW of electrical power at 150 kVA.
Nichols Brothers upgraded the features on Jamie Ann to improve wheelhouse visibility, winch operations and crew safety on deck. It also improved crew comfort by installing sound abatement in the engineroom and accommodation. Jamie Ann has eight berths for a minimum crew of six seafarers.
Deck equipment over the series includes a double-drum offshore towing and rescue winch on the stern and a Markey DEPC-32 escort winch or TESS-34AS winch for emergency towing. There is a Markey DEPCF-52R bow winch, which has 230 m of 254 mm diameter synthetic line and 760 m of 52 mm diameter towing wire and an option including 137 m of 165 mm barge-pulling line.
Jamie Ann particulars
Owner: Foss Maritime
Builder: Nichols Brothers
Designer: Jensen
Design: ASD-90 Valor
Class: ABS Loadline
Type: escort, emergency towage
Bollard pull: 90 tonnes
Length, oa: 31.7 m
Beam, oa: 12.2 m
Depth, moulded: 5.2 m
Main engines: 2 x MTU 16v4000M65L
Power: 2,560 kW at 1,800 rpm
Z-drives: Kongsberg US255
Gensets: 2 x John Deere 6068AFM85
Deck machinery: Markey DEPC-32 escort winch, DEPCF-52R bow winch
Accommodation: 8 crew
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