Spanish shipbuilder GONDAN has delivered the LNG-powered dual fuel tug to its new owner, the Norwegian shipping company Østensjø Rederi A/S.DUX is the first tugboat of a series of three designed by the Canadian company Robert Allan Ltd. The escort tug, with 40.2 meters length and 16 meters beam, will provide tug services to Norwegian state-owned energy company Statoil, at the far-north terminal located at Melkøya.Built to withstand severe weather and harsh environments, the vessel is shaped specifically to grant full operational availability at temperatures of -20 degrees Celsius and combines environmental sustainability through the use of LNG in most of its operations – therefore complying with IMO Tier III emissions standards – but with the added flexibility of diesel power to ensure a high level of operational security.DUX is advertised with a free running speed of 15 knots and is capable of direct and indirect towing performance, with exceptionally high direct pull and escort forces: 107 ton bollard pull and 167 ton steering force, both class approved by Bureau Veritas. The tug is outfitted to accommodate a crew of 8 people, with extraordinary behavior regarding noise and vibration isolation. GONDAN says, as an example, DUX has achieved noise levels as low as 45 dB in the crew’s cabins.DUX is expected to conduct approximately 300 LNG ship escorts per year, and will assist with berthing operations and will be maintained in readiness for emergency services such as long line towing, fire-fighting, and oil spill response.Turkey's Sanmar has built the world's first LNG fuel tugboat in 2014Building LNG-Fueled tugboats has been pioneered by Sanmar, Turkey's tugboat specialist company, as Sanmar constructed the world’s first Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) powered escort tugs.The vessels have been ordered by Buksér og Berging AS of Norway and entered the service in 2014. BB has signed a long term charter with Statoil ASA, the international energy company, and Gassco, the operator of the gas transportation network off the Norwegian coast.Tugs are usually fuelled by marine diesel oil. However, this fuel produces a number of polluting emissions. The new vessels, Borgøy and Bokn, are designed by the Norwegian tug owner Buksér og Berging AS. These are the first tugs to be fuelled by the much more environmentally friendly liquefied natural gas (LNG) to eliminate sulphur emissions, bring particulate matter emissions down close to zero and reduce the discharge of CO2 and NOx by 26 per cent and 80-90 per cent respectively.Powering each of the new tugs is a pair of lean-burn gas engines from Rolls-Royce Bergen, with a combined output of 3410kW at 1,000 rev/min. These powerful gas engines are particularly robust, with a high degree of reliability and long intervals between overhaul. The lean-burn principle delivers high efficiency coupled with reduced exhaust emissions and low specific energy consumption. The engines are direct coupled to Rolls-Royce azimuthing Z-drives mounted aft in ASD configuration. The propellers have diameters of 3,000mm.Gas engine technology is not new having been proven in both land-based and large ship installations but the two new 35m LNG fuelled terminal tugs are trailblazers in this sector of the marine market demanding a significant step-forward in technical know-how above that of the average tug building yard. Always at the forefront of innovation and technological advance, Sanmar now has a distinct lead on all other specialist tug building yards in the search for more eco-friendly and economic tug operation.The systems have had to meet the International Code of Safety for Gas Fuelled ships and the DNV Classification Society rules. These involve such requirements as independent engine room spaces with ventilation of 30 air changes per hour, gas detection, automatic shutdown of gas supply and disconnection of electrical equipment, excess flow shutdown, ventilated double (sheathed) piping. Other special knowledge has been incorporated into the installation of the Aga Cryro AB 80m3 capacity double walled tank, cold boxes and gas heating systems.The tugs are built to DNV Class including Fi-fi and oil recovery as well as escort notation. The tug has a length of 35 m, beam of 15 m and draft of 5.5 m with superior escort capabilities of 100 tonnes steering force at 1o knots. Static Bollard pull is 70 tonnes. The 2 tugs will operate at Statoils gas terminal at Kaarstoe in Norway. For the ancillary tasks, where close quarter manoeuvrability is required, the vessels are fitted with a Schottel 333kw bow thruster whilst the main towing winch, suppplied by Karmoy, has a brake load capacity of 250 tons. A Heila deck crane is also carried.Onboard accommodation provides two single officer cabins and two twin berth crew cabins, galley, mess room – all to North European standard of comfort and quality including heated floors to all the sanitary spaces. Care has been taken to reduce sound levels throughout the accommodation areas and at 85 per cent engine load, just 65dB is recorded.
TUG&WORKBOAT
28 May 2017 - 19:15
Spanish shipyard seconds Turkey's Sanmar in building LNG-Powered tugboats
Spanish shipbuilder GONDAN has delivered the LNG-powered dual fuel tug to its new owner, the Norwegian shipping company Østensjø Rederi A/S. This seconds Sanmar's building of the world's first LNG-Fuel tug boats.
TUG&WORKBOAT
28 May 2017 - 19:15
This news 5422 hits received.
EDITOR
SEANEWS TURKEY MARITIME NEWS FROM THE WORLD AND TURKEY
These news may also interest you