US shipyard completes escort tug newbuilding series

It has welcomed George M into its fleet to assist ships in US Gulf harbours and terminals. This is the last of five tugs built to Robert Allan Z-Tech 30-80 design by Gulf Island in a programme started in 2018, with the first of this batch, Mark E. Kuebler, delivered in 2019.

Robert Allan said its Z-Tech 30-80 design incorporates its unique RAstar series sponsoned hullform into the existing Z-Tech design “which greatly enhances the tug’s escort capabilities by generating more than 100 tonnes of steering force at 10 knots”.

Built to ABS class and US Coast Guard regulations for escorting large ships using terminals on the US Gulf coast, they also comply with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Tier 4 emissions requirements and have been built for fire-fighting and emergency response duties.

With an overall length of 29.5 m, moulded beam of 13 m and moulded hull depth of 5 m, they have Caterpillar 3516E engines driving Schottel SRP 510 fixed pitch Z-drive units providing top speeds of 13 knots.

Gulf Island Shipyards has built 10 Z-Tech 30-80 design tugs for two owners, with five built for Bay Houston Towing and another five for Suderman & Young Towing Co.

With addition of George M, Bay-Houston Towing operates 14 Z-Tech tugs designed by Robert Allan.

Tug operations, propulsion technologies, safety and stability issues will be discussed during Riviera’s first ITS TUGTECHNOLOGY Webinar Week on 29-31 March - use this link for more details and to register for these webinars