UZMAR Shipyard lays the keel for four RAmpage 6000DE tugs for ExxonMobil's operations in Guyana, marking a significant investment in marine support.
KOCAELİ: UZMAR Shipyard held the keel-laying ceremony for four RAmpage 6000DE diesel-electric powered offshore terminal support tugboats.
The tugboats are being constructed for SMIT Lamnalco and will operate in ExxonMobil's offshore terminal operations in Guyana.
"The tugboats under construction were inspected on-site."
Prior to the ceremony, senior representatives from ExxonMobil, SMIT Lamnalco, Boskalis, and Robert Allan Ltd. attended a conference organized by UZMAR regarding the progress of the project, after which they inspected the tugboats under construction on-site. At the ceremony, speeches were made by Mike Fitzpatrick, CEO of Robert Allan Ltd., Robert Jan van Acker, CEO of SMIT Lamnalco, John Jacobs, ExxonMobil Trading and Business Development Manager, and A. Noyan Altuğ, Chairman of the Board of UZMAR. The ceremony concluded with a symbolic keel-laying event, which brought a contemporary interpretation to one of the oldest traditions of shipbuilding, conducted with advanced robotic welding arms.
The RAmpage 6000DE, designed by Robert Allan Ltd., has been specifically developed for offshore terminal support duties. The diesel-electric propulsion provides efficient and flexible operation across varying load profiles. The tugboats, measuring 60 meters in length and 16.4 meters in width, achieve a bollard pull of 135 tons ahead and 120 tons astern with a total power of 9,680 kW and a maximum speed of 14.5 knots. Four main generators ensure full power for the tugs to remain on hire continuously. Their long-range capability allows for uninterrupted offshore operations exceeding 60 days. The DP2 capability, integrated with Fire Fighting 1 class notation and oil recovery and dispersant systems, prepares the tugboats for terminal support and emergency response missions off the coast of Guyana.
Mike Fitzpatrick, CEO of Robert Allan Ltd., stated: “There are five critical elements needed to build an extraordinary tugboat: a strong design from an experienced naval architect, high-quality equipment, a shipyard committed to delivering a world-class product, an operator involved in the process from the earliest design stages, and an end customer like Exxon that clearly understands the operational requirements and the value of a specialized design. I am pleased to say that all five of these critical foundations are in place for the construction of these tugboats.”
“A significant milestone in a project representing one of our major investments.”
Robert Jan van Acker, CEO of SMIT Lamnalco, said: “Today’s keel-laying ceremony marks a significant milestone in a project representing one of the most important investments in the history of SMIT Lamnalco. This ceremony is the result of years of collaboration between ExxonMobil, UZMAR, Robert Allan Ltd., and our team to develop a tugboat design that combines safety, reliability, and operational excellence. As Guyana continues its remarkable growth as a global energy hub, these tugboats will provide the marine support necessary for safe and efficient offshore operations for many years to come.”
John Jacobs, ExxonMobil Trading and Business Development Manager, stated: “At ExxonMobil, nothing is more important than safety and operational integrity. These values are deeply ingrained in how we operate and how we select our partners. We prefer to work with organizations that share our commitment to protecting people, safeguarding the environment, and striving for excellence in everything we do. I take pride in saying that UZMAR, SMIT Lamnalco, Robert Allan Ltd., and Boskalis exemplify these values. Together, we have built a partnership based on professionalism, technical excellence, and mutual respect. These shared principles have been instrumental in bringing us to today’s milestone and will continue to guide us until the successful delivery of the tugboats.”
“The keel is the backbone of a ship.”
A. Noyan Altuğ, Chairman of the Board of UZMAR, stated: “The keel is the backbone of a ship. Everything is built upon it. From today, these projects are no longer just drawings; they are tangible and will be the strongest tugboats ever built in Turkey. Constructing four tugboats of this size and power simultaneously is not something every shipyard can do. We have the capability and opportunity to do this, and we take pride in it. Regardless of the conditions, each of these tugboats we are building to operate continuously has four generators; if one stops, the others continue to operate. Our partnership with ExxonMobil, SMIT Lamnalco, Boskalis, and Robert Allan was established in the same way; we have a structure where each partner fully supports the others, leaving no room for error. The foundation of every great ship is a strong keel, and the foundation of every great partnership is mutual trust. Today, we take pride in experiencing both together.”
The delivery of the first tugboat in the series is planned for November 2027. The project further strengthens UZMAR's position as a leading shipyard constructing advanced offshore and terminal support tugboats for international operators.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
