VESSEL REVIEW | Svitzer Suez 1 – Versatile escort tug for Svitzer’s operations in Egypt

A new escort tug was recently delivered to Svitzer Egypt for operation in the Suez Canal.

Designed by Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) and built by a Hong Kong shipyard, Svitzer Suez 1 has an LOA of 28.4 metres, a moulded beam of 13 metres, a moulded depth of 5.4 metres, and a maximum draught of 5.5 metres. The Lloyd's Register-classed tug was developed with the goal of making it extremely flexible allowing for various propulsion machinery options, IMO Tier III-compliant features, deck machinery choices, and accommodation layouts, all with minimal impact on the overall design.

The hull form has the proven sponsoned shape typical of all designs of the same RAL series. The hull form was refined and tested using CFD to ensure the desired free running performance, manoeuvrability, and escort performance characteristics. The escort performance was analysed using CFD at various stages of the design to ensure the desired performance while achieving a design that is fully compliant with IMO escort stability criteria at speeds up to 10 knots.

The house works are low profile for working under the flare of attended vessels while the visibility from the operator's position is excellent. Design work was completed to ensure compliance with all the major classification societies' rules, and it exceeds many flag and/or owner specific safety requirements, such as being fitted with 45-degree stair angles throughout.

Accommodations are outfitted to high, MLC-compliant standards for a crew of up to 10 personnel. The master's and chief engineer's cabins are located on the main deck while the four double crew cabins are located in the lower accommodation deck.

The main propulsion comprises a pair of Caterpillar 3516C diesel engines, each rated at 2,350 kW at 1,800 rpm, and each driving a Kongsberg Maritime US 255S P30 fixed-pitch Z-drive. This arrangement delivers a bollard pull of 82 tonnes and a free running speed of 13.3 knots. The electrical plant meanwhile comprises two identical Caterpillar C 7.1 diesel generator sets that each have a power output of 118 ekW.

On the foredeck is a MacGregor hydraulically driven, split drum, escort towing winch accommodating two 200-metre lengths of 60mm diameter synthetic rope and fitted with double gypsies and warping heads. The winch is equipped with a length and tension monitoring system and also comes with a load indicating display in the wheelhouse.

On the aft deck, there is a MacGregor hydraulically driven towing winch. The drum can accommodate 750 metres of 56mm diameter steel wire rope and has a brake holding force of 200 tonnes. The winch has a spooling gear and a 530 mm diameter horizontal warping head. The aft deck is further outfitted with a gob eye, tugger winch, rescue boat, and knuckle boom crane.

Svitzer Suez 1 is also equipped with an off-ship fire-fighting system meeting class Fifi1 requirements with water spray. The system was supplied by Fire Fighting Systems and comprises one main engine-driven centrifugal pump with capacity of 2,850 m³/h. The two monitors deliver 1,200 m³/h of water and 300 m³/h of foam.

Ship handling fenders at the bow consist of an 800 mm diameter cylindrical fender with 480 by 300 mm "W" block fendering below. Additional 300 by 300 mm hollow "D" fendering provides protection at the sheer line, and 480 by 300 mm "W" block fendering is used at the stern.

See more stories from this month's Tug and Salvage Week here.