VESSEL REVIEW | PSA Thor and PSA Hulk – PSA Marine’s two new superhero tugs

PSA Marine Singapore has taken delivery of ASD tugs PSA Thor and PSA Hulk of Robert Allan Ltd. design, built at PaxOcean Engineering Zhuhai Co.

The hull form was developed to provide ship assist in the berthing and un-berthing operations inports/terminals and also coastal towing operations. Tugs of this design are capable of escort service as well.

A special uniquely styled deckhouse and wheelhouse developed exclusively for PSA Marine, was designed to provide an appealing appearance. The tugs are 32.0 metres long and 12.0 metres in beam, with a moulded depth of 5.42 metres and maximum draught of 5.53 metres.

The pair were designed and constructed to satisfy all applicable rules and regulations of LR *100 A1 Tug, Escort Tug, Fire Fighting Ship 1 with Water Spray, *LMC, UMS, IWS. Trials resulted in an ahead bollard pull of 82 tonnes, astern bollard pull of 78 tonnes, and free running speed ahead of 12.5 knots.

The vessel has been outfitted to the highest standards for a normal operating crew of four. The master and chief engineer's cabin are located on the main deck, with four additional double crew cabins located on the lower accommodation deck. There is also a galley and mess room located on the main deck.

The deck machinery comprises a Rolls Royce heavy duty render/recover escort towing winch on the bow, spooled with 220 metres of soft line on the working drum plus 150 metres of spare line on the second drum.

There is also a Rolls Royce towing winch on the aft deck with a capacity of 720 metres of Ø52 mm steel wire rope. The large area of aft deck provides capability of loading deck cargo. The aft end of bulwark is opened for coastal towing service.

Main propulsion for each tug comprises a pair of Caterpillar 3516C diesel engines, each rated 2,525 kW at 1,800 rpm, and each driving a Schottel SRP 510FP Z-drive unit, with a 2,800mm diameter fixed pitch propeller.

The tug is fitted with a classed Fire Fighting 1 system from FFS, driven off the starboard main engine. The electrical plant consists of two identical Cummins QSM11-M diesel gensets, each with a power output of 220ekW, 50 Hz.

Ship-handling fenders at the bow consist of one tier of 800 OD by 400 ID cylindrical fender at the main deck level, with 480 by 300 W-Block fenders between the main deck and the knuckle, and 300 by 300 hollow, D-style fenders along the sheer lines of main and forecastle deck, stem and skeg. 400 OD by 200 ID fendering is used at the stern.