Harbour Tugs and Operation

VESSEL REVIEW | Multratug 6 – Multraship’s new reverse stern drive tug ahead of the pack for crew comfort, emissions

Baird Maritime

Dutch towage company and maritime services provider Multraship Towage and Salvage recently received the reversed stern drive tug Multratug 6, a Damen newbuild built for ship-handling duties worldwide.

As well as requiring additional tonnage, the owner specifically wanted to reduce emissions and increase crew comfort by reducing noise and vibration levels.

"We take responsibility for the environment and this is the reason that we have chosen an IMO Tier III-compliant vessel, the first of its kind in Europe," commented Multraship Managing Director Leendert Muller. "This is also in tune with the increasing demand from local port authorities for clean operations."

An efficient vessel, both as bow assisting vessel and stern assisting vessel, Multratug 6 is ultimately a mix between tractor tug and ASD. Compact and powerful, it will enable bigger container vessels to enter confined areas, while meeting compliance with future regulations.

Damen has built up extensive experience of how to minimise onboard vibrations from its work in the superyacht and naval vessel sectors, and has been successfully able to translate this to the design of Multratug 6 and future sisterships.

According to Damen, the key to the development of this tug was to come up with an answer for the challenges its customers were faced with: flexibility, efficient operations, high power in compact vessels, and this all in a safer way than ever before.

"This required open minds, discussions with the industry, from suppliers, through research institutes to customers and actual users," Damen told Baird Maritime. "The result is a true innovation, featuring future-proof characteristics that run throughout the design, build and operation of the vessel."

The always-bow-first principle offers the flexibility for the vessel to operate optimally as both a bow and stern assisting tug. The twin fin skeg generates high towing performance at low engine power, resulting in a overall fuel consumption. The twin fin also provides significantly improved manoeuvrability for ease of use in confined harbours.

Damen said that the biggest challenge in building the vessel was the fully shaped hull form and glued superstructure, incorporated to reduce noise and vibrations. As a result of the experience building Multratug 6, the twin fin will be applied on more vessel types, as it has proven to ensure predictable and stable sailing performance (directional stability), which is at stake when moving to more compact vessels. As the need is for compactness, twin fins are necessary to ensure this stable behavior and with that the safe operation of the vessel.

Multratug 6 with another Multraship tug in the background

The tug is powered by a pair of MTU 16V 4000 M63L-1A main engines for a total power of 4,480 bkW (6,008 bhp) at 1,800 rpm, which drive 2,700mm diameter Rolls Royce US 255 thrusters.

Multratug 6 is the first European tug with a conventional propulsion system to comply with IMO Tier III regulations based on a SCR system. Multraship also wanted to be beyond compliance with stability regulations that will be applicable for tugs from 2020 onwards and IMO emission areas.

The Damen Marine NOX reduction system is an advanced active emissions control system using SCR (selective catalytic reduction) technology for NOX reductions up to emissions standards according to IMO Tier III, suitable for marine diesel engines and fuels.

It has been designed and optimised for the specific sailing profile of a vessel, and is able to operate on both high and low loads in ambient conditions from -30⁰C up to 45⁰C. Its robust design is suitable for high sulphur fuels (DMA ISO 8217:2017) capable of using both automotive (AUS32) and marine quality urea (AUS40).

Combined with 45dB(A) silencers, the system limits the emissions of NOX and noise, thus contributing to a healthier and more sustainable environment, especially close to urban areas such as in ports.

Multratug 6 features a Praxis automation system with Damen in-house developed "human machine interface" on top, which gives the crew the relevant information when it is needed and where it is needed.

"Damen Digital" is the gateway where all data from systems and equipment aboard the tug is channeled. This includes remote monitoring of fuel consumption and equipment performance.

The towing winch is a hydraulically driven split drum model, capable of 31 tonnes pull at up to 11 metres per minute, and reduced pull up to 38 metres per minute. It features stepless speed/torque for smoother towline handling.

Accommodation is provided for four persons, completely insulated and finished with durable modern linings, and a sound-absorbing ceiling in the wheelhouse and floating floors.The wheelhouse, accommodation and switchboard room are all air-conditioned. Accommodation is located above above the main deck with a captain's cabin, chief engineer's cabin, one double crew cabin, pantry, mess/dayroom and sanitary facilities. The superstructure is mounted resiliently to reduce noise levels.

Like most of Multraship's port tugs, Multratug 6 is also capable of working at sea.

Multratug 6
SPECIFICATIONS
Type of vessel:Ocean and harbour tug
Classification:Bureau Veritas I + HULL ● MACH Tug Coastal Service AUT UMS INWATERSURVEY COMFNOISE 3, COMF-VIB 3 (Incl. IMO III EAIPP certificate)
Owner:Multraship, Netherlands
Designer:Damen, Netherlands
Builder:Damen, Netherlands
Length overall:24.73 metres
Beam overall:13.13 metres
Depth at sides:4.95 metres
Draught aft:5.50 metres
Displacement:525 tonnes
Main engines:2 x MTU 16V 4000 M63L-1A, each 2,240 bkW (3,004 bhp) at 1,800 rpm
Propulsion:2 x Rolls Royce US 255, 2,700mm dia. propellers
Forced ventilation:60.000 m3/h
Exhaust emission:IMO Tier III compliant
Generator sets:2 x Caterpillar C4.4 TA, 81 kVA, 400 V, 50 Hz
Bollard pull ahead:72.6 tonnes
Bollard pull astern:68.0 tonnes
Speed ahead:12.9 knots
Speed astern:12.6 knots
Searchlight:Norselight, 2000 W
Radar system:Furuno FAR-1518-BB
Compass:Cassens and Plath Reflecta 11
Autopilot:Simrad AP-70
Satellite compass/GPS:Simrad GN70/HS80A
Echosounder:Furuno FCV-628
Speed log:Furuno DS-80
VHF:2 x Sailor 6222
VHF hand-held:Jotron TR-20
Navtex:Furuno NX-700
AIS:Furuno FA-170
EPIRB:Jotron Tron-60S
Sart:Jotron Tronsart20
Anchor:360 kg Pool (high holding power)
Anchor winch:Hydraulic 10 m/min
Towing winch:Hydraulically driven split drum 31t pull up to 11 m/min, reduced pull up to 38 m/min, 175t brake
Fendering:Cylinder + block bow fender, D-fender side/aft
General service pumps:2 x Azcue CA 50/3A 20 m3/h at 2.35 bar
Bilge water pump:Azcue CA 32/0.5 3.6 m3/h at 1.1 bar
Fuel pump:Azcue BR-41-10 12 m3/h at 1 bar
Fuel oil purifier:2 x CJC, PTU3 27/81 3x FA/BLA 27/27
Cooling system:Closed box cooling system
Fresh water pressure set:Azcue MO-31/10
Hydraulic system:Double main engine-driven pumps
Fuel oil:77.4 m3
Fresh water:10.2 m3
Bilge water:6.0 m3
Sewage:6.0 m3
Dirty oil:2.5 m3
Lubrication oil:2.5 m3
Urea:3.0 m3
Accommodation:4