Caspian Fauna was built with ice-class 1D, draught of 1.8 m and 25 tonnes of bollard pull
Caspian Offshore Construction is deploying a new shallow-draught, ice-class tug in Aktau Port, Kazakhstan after its completion at the end of June. Caspian Fauna will be used for coastal towage and harbour operations year-round.
It was built by Aksoy Gelibolu Shipyard with a draught of just 1.8 m and bollard pull of 25 tonnes for towage and docking, launched down its ramp at the end of April and outfitted ready for sea trials in June.
Caspian Fauna has an overall length of 30 m, beam of 11 m and hull depth of 3.20 m. It is classed for unrestricted navigation, for anchor handling and with ice-class 1D.
Aksoy Gelibolu Shipyard installed two main diesel engines with power ratings of 970 kW each. Combined, these produce 1,940 kW to power two propellers through reduction gears. Caspian Fauna has accommodation for 10 people.
Seaplace developed the design and carried out structural engineering using subsystem V80R3.0 for naval architecture and detailed hull and internal structural engineering from Sener’s FORAN V80 system.
This included an amendment covering the latest Intact Stability Code (IS-2008) for ships engaged in anchor handling, towing and escort or lifting operations which came into effect on 1 January 2020.
Initially, a basic design of Caspian Fauna’s structure was created, enabling steel purchasing to commence. Then the main equipment such as engines, gearboxes, propellers and deck equipment were defined and ordered for delivery around 6-8 months later.
A detailed design was generated, and the preliminary midship section was reviewed by class. Aksoy Gelibolu Shipyard laid the keel in November 2019, three months after the vessel design began.
Seaplace said weight control and draught restrictions were challenges in the design; then construction work was delayed by the global coronavirus pandemic. Caspian Fauna was due to be launched by mid-March but was delayed until 24 April.
During that period the shipyard started outfitting the tug while it was in dock. It installed deck machinery including a capstan and double-drum towing and anchor handling winch with 25-tonnes capacity at a speed of 9.5 m/min or 10 tonnes at 19 m/min.
On 24 June Caspian Fauna passed its sea trials, obtaining 25.24 tonnes of bollard pull during tests. On 1 July it was handed to the owner to be sailed to Aktau Port.
Sener’s full FORAN software can be used to develop every phase of a ship’s design and engineering in an integrated way in a single database. According to Sener, this yields a considerable reduction in the delivery time and project costs.
Caspian Fauna particulars
Owner: Caspian Offshore Construction
Builder: Aksoy Gelibolu Shipyard
Designer: Seaplace
Length, oa: 30.00 m
Breadth: 11.00 m
Depth: 3.20 m
Minimum draught: 1.80 m
Power: 2 x 970 kW
Bollard pull: 25 tonnes
Speed: 10.5 knots
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