Vessels ordered for handling VLCCs

To meet this requirement, Sanmar has introduced a new vessel class based on a Robert Allan design. The Iyidere-class vessels are designed as line-handling launchers with some towage capabilities.

Targe Towing will use two of these vessels to handle large crude oil tankers up to VLCC size at Ineos’ Forties Pipeline System’s Hound Point marine terminal on the Firth of Forth, Scotland. Targe Towing has provided towage and berthing services at this terminal for the past 30 years and is in the middle of a fleet renewal campaign.

It has already brought into service three new harbour tugs from Sanmar and followed that up with this order for two line-handling vessels. The three Bogacay-class tugs were ordered and built by Sanmar at its Turkish shipyard in the past three years for Targe’s requirements.

Targe Towing managing director Tom Woolley said, “Sanmar’s design team works hard at accommodating bespoke changes for individual clients’ requirements.”

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Iyidere-class vessels are based on Robert Allan’s RAmbler 1200 design for multipurpose mini tugs, which was adapted from a twin screw RA 1600 design.

The two vessels built for Targe will each have a bollard pull of 6 tonnes, speed of 9.5 knots and be able to carry 12 passengers.

Targe’s fleet renewal bolsters tanker handling services at Hound Point, a key crude exporting terminal for North Sea oil. It is a strong indication of intent to continue exports flowing for decades to come.

Tug design, engineering and operations will be discussed in detail during Riviera Maritime Media’s series of webinar weeks in Q3 2020, for more details use this link