Turkey's Uzmar Shipyard has completed construction on three purpose-designed tugs to be operated in Mozambique by Dutch towage company Smit Lamnalco.
The Bureau Veritas-classed sisters SL Ibo, SL Matemo, and SL Macaloe were specifically designed by Canadian naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd for operation in the offshore area near the northeast coast of Pemba, Mozambique. The three tugs will be working together with one multi-purpose vessel as a fleet in support of FLNG operation, providing berthing and unberthing assistance to LNG carriers and condensate tankers, and as holdback tugs during cargo transfer operations.
The Marshall Islands-flagged tugs each have an LOA of 42 metres, a moulded beam of 16 metres, and a maximum draught of seven metres. The two Anglo Belgian Corporation 12V DZC-166-1000 2,900kW diesel engines on each tug drive Kongsberg controllable-pitch propellers to deliver a bollard pull of 93 tonnes and a free running speed of 14 knots. In addition to the main propulsion, there is also a Kongsberg electric motor-driven, drop down azimuthing bow thruster.
The tugs were designed to have good seakeeping and are capable of performing the berthing and unberthing services in open water. A U-tube anti-roll tank is incorporated and arranged to significantly reduce roll motions and improve seakeeping performance in offshore operations.
The tugs have been outfitted for safe and efficient performance of ship handling. The deck machinery comprises a Brattvaag escort winch and two hydraulic vertical anchor windlasses at the bow. The escort winch is spooled with a high-performance synthetic towline on each drum.
A towing hook, tow pin, and two tugger winches are provided on the aft deck. An aft towing winch is also provided for SL Macaloe. In addition, a deck crane is also provided for deck cargo handling. The aft deck is designed to load up to 100 tonnes of assorted cargo.
The tugs have extensive ship-handling fendering, consisting of a cylindrical bow fender of one metre in diameter at the forecastle deck level and W-block fenders at the stern, with D-fender installed along the sheer lines at the forecastle deck and main deck.
The vessels have been designed to have a full-height forecastle deck with one tier of deckhouse above the forecastle deck and below the wheelhouse. They also have each been outfitted for an operating crew of up to 12. The crew cabins, galley, and mess are spaciously arranged in the deckhouse and forecastle deck.
The cabins are isolated from the machinery space to provide quiet and comfortable living spaces for the crew. A gym and an accommodation area for rescued survivors are arranged on the lower deck.
Power for all onboard systems on each tug is supplied by three Caterpillar C18 generators. A Caterpillar C4.4 emergency generator is also fitted.
The new tugs are also equipped for firefighting, oil spill recovery, and standby rescue duties with capacity for up to 20 rescued survivors on each.
| SL Ibo, SL Macaloe & SL Matemo | |
| SPECIFICATIONS | |
| Type of vessel: | Ship assist tugs |
| Classification: | Bureau Veritas |
| Flag: | Marshall Islands |
| Owner: | Smit Lamnalco, Netherlands |
| Designer: | Robert Allan Ltd, Canada |
| Builder: | Uzmar Shipyard, Turkey |
| Length overall: | 42 metres |
| Beam: | 16 metres |
| Draught: | 7.0 metres |
| Deadweight tonnage: | 100 |
| Main engines: | 2 x Anglo Belgian Corporation 12V DZC-166-1000, each 2,900 kW |
| Propulsion: | 2 x Kongsberg controllable-pitch propellers |
| Generators: | 3 x Caterpillar C18; Caterpillar C4.4 |
| Side thruster: | Kongsberg |
| Maximum speed: | 14 knots |
| Bollard pull: | 93 tonnes |
| Winch: | Brattvaag |
| Windlasses: | 2 |
| Other deck equipment: | Towing hook; tow pin |
| Other equipment installed: | Anti-roll tank |
| Accommodation: | Cabins; galley; mess; gym; survivors' area |
| Crew: | 12 |
| Operational area: | Mozambique |