Seaspan expands tug fleet through acquisition

The major North American transportation group is enhancing its towage capabilities in British Columbia in reaction to the growing Pacific Northwest maritime economy and increasing size of ships using the region’s ports.

Seaspan has purchased two existing tugs from owner and builder Sanmar in Turkey. The two Bogacay-class escort tugs will support its fleet in Vancouver, where it assists ships in harbours and terminals, including ultra-large container ships.

These were built by Sanmar following a RAmparts 2400SX design by British Columbia-headquartered naval architects Robert Allan. They have served in Sanmar’s own tugboat fleet in Turkey for the last four years.

Netherlands-based Redwise Maritime Services is mobilising the first of these purchased tugs, 2015-built Seaspan Raptor (ex-Bogacay VIII), from Turkey to western Canada with arrival expected by the end of November.

A second sister tug, built in 2016, will leave the Sanmar fleet during 2021 and is expected to arrive in Vancouver in Q2 2021.

“These are the fifth and sixth tugs Seaspan has acquired from Sanmar,” said Seaspan chief executive Frank Butzelaar.

“These powerful tugs are an example of Seaspan’s continued long-term commitment to service our ship docking customers in a market where the average ship size continues to increase over time,” he said.

Bogacay-class tugs have an overall length of 24.4 m, bollard pull of 75 tonnes and top speed of 13 knots. They are rated for escort and terminal duties and have fire-fighting capabilities to FiFi1 class.

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Seaspan’s fleet already includes four tugs built by Sanmar, delivered between 2010 and 2012. Seaspan Raven, Eagle, Osprey and Kestrel continue to assist ships in and around Vancouver.

These tugs were built to the RAstar 2800 model, again designed by Robert Allan for Sanmar, and designated Terminal class. These 28-m tugs each have bollard pull of around 70 tonnes.

“Seaspan has worked with Sanmar tugs for the last 10 years, so this return provides testament to their satisfaction by every means,” said Sanmar shipyards commercial director Ruchan Civgin.

“With these latest deliveries, Seaspan not only has the opportunity to operate our flagship Bogacay-series tugs but also experience the improvements developed across the range by Sanmar since then,” he commented.

Terminal and escort operations will be discussed in depth during Riviera Maritime Media’s Smart Tug Operations Virtual Conference on 1 December 2020 - use this link to access information and to register for this event