Rimorchiatori Riuniti expands fleet with new tractor tug

Italia is a Z-drive tractor, built from an adapted Robert Allan TRAktor 2500-SX design class rated to conduct ship escorting and manoeuvring in rough seas, at terminals and in harbours.

This 25.3-m long tug has fire-fighting systems to FiFi1 class including an independent pump set-up. Rimorchiatori Riuniti newest 323-gt tug has a 12 m beam and 6.45 m draught, 70.2 tonnes of bollard pull and free running speed ahead of 12.4 knots from propulsion consisting of a pair of Caterpillar 3516C diesel engines.

These are each rated 2,100 kW at 1,600 rpm and drive two Kongsberg US 255 P30 fixed pitch azimuthing drives through straight-line carbon fibre shafts.

Italia has been deployed to provide towage services in Genoa, Italy. It has a raised deck for operating in rough weather and keeping the lower accommodation space above the design waterline.

Investment in this new escort tug comes as new tanker and LNG carrier terminal capacity is built for rising energy imports into Europe.

However, Italia’s introduction comes as Italy is in lockdown and there are tightening port restrictions as the nation battles Covid-19 infections. More than 15,880 people have died so far in Italy from this coronavirus but the daily death count is falling and authorities are increasingly confident the peak of new cases has passed.