Svitzer is energising its fleet of terminal tugs in the Middle East with two new tugs commissioned and three more under construction
Up to five azimuth stern drive (ASD) tugs are being built for Svitzer’s operations in Oman in Sanmar’s Turkish shipyard to support container ships berthing at the Sohar terminal after Svitzer signed a contract renewal in 2019.
Sohar Industrial Port Co contracted Svitzer to provide marine services for another 15 years at the terminal, prompting one of the world’s largest tug owners to order the five tugs from Sanmar Shipyards.
The first two of these tugs were sailed from Turkey to Oman in February and commissioned in Sohar to enhance Svitzer’s ship handling capabilities.
Svitzer Liwa and Svitzer Barka were built as Sirapinar class tugs to Robert Allan’s RAmparts 2200 design.
Svitzer’s Sohar port manager Peter Rosewall said Sanmar handled the delivery of these two tugs with its inhouse delivery crew from Turkey to Oman through the Suez Canal.
Port of Sohar deputy harbour master Jacob Bac said these Sirapinar-class tugs enhance towage and berthing in the terminal. “Svitzer Liwa and Svitzer Barka bring a whole new level of towage to Sohar port,” he said. “With their sharp handling and manoeuvrability along with their instant power, they certainly are a force to be reckoned with.”
With an overall length of 22.4 m, breadth of 10.9 m, extreme draught of 4.5 m, they have a free running speed of 12 knots and bollard pull of more than 50 tonnes. Svitzer Liwa and Svitzer Barka are powered by a pair of Caterpillar 3512C main engines, each providing 1,500 kW. These are paired with Schottel SRP 1012 azimuthing thrusters.
Sanmar is building three Bigacay-class escort tugs to Robert Allan’s RAstar 2900SX design with an overall length of 29.4 m and beam of 13.3 m. Their propulsion will produce bollard pull of around 80 tonnes.
Svitzer chief operating officer Leonardo Sonzio said contracts for these five tug newbuildings were awarded during a tender process during Q1 2019. “Sanmar understood both the port’s and Svitzer’s requirements and was able to specify a reliable and cost-effective solution, supporting our ambition to deliver safe and efficient towage services to our clients.”
Sanmar vice president Ali Gurun said tugs delivered to Svitzer for Port of Sohar operations were customised from a standard design. “Two exceptionally successful Robert Allan exclusive designs have been modified by our design and engineering teams inhouse to suit Sohar’s challenging requirements within a very tight budget constraint,”
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