Sanmar Shipyard has launched the first of two RAstar 3200 design tugs it is building for the Orkney Islands Council (OIC), Scotland
Odin of Scapa was launched at Sanmar’s facilities in Altinova in Turkey at the end of February.
It will be outfitted, commissioned and undergo sea trials in April. It will then be mobilised to the northern Scottish islands during a three-week voyage in May.
Sanmar is building a second tug, to named Thor of Scapa, and expects this to be delivered two months after delivering Odin of Scapa.
These two tugs will be used to escort and support tankers using the oil terminal in Orkney. They will also assist other ships in the islands’ harbours.
The 32-m escort tugs will replace two of the three tugs currently operated by Orkney Islands Council Marine Services.
They will have bollard pulls of 70-80 tonnes and are adapted to operate in Scapa Flow and alongside Scapa Pier.
OIC head of marine services, engineering and transportation Brian Archibald said progress was being made at the Sanmar Shipyards on these tugs
“The programme has gone exceptionally well thus far and we are delighted with the build quality and progress with both tugs,” he said.
Sanmar is currently turning out about 35 tugs each year, but this does not impact quality.
“When I and the specialist team from Orkney inspected the vessel prior to launch, it was clear that the expertise, skill and attention to detail in tug work has been applied in full to our new tugs,” said Mr Archibald.
“These tugs are, at present, the largest and most capable which Sanmar has under construction.”
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.