Canadian naval architect Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) has won a contract to design an articulated tug and barge (ATB) to ship containers along the coast of Brazil
Rio Maguari Shipyard in Belém, Brazil, contracted RAL after it gained an order from Maersk Group subsidiary and major Latin America logistics provider Aliança Navegação e Logística to build two ATBs.
ABS-classed, the ATBs will be employed to ship containers along the coast of Brazil.
Robert Allan developed an ATB suitable for operations along the entire coast of the country, including in the south, where the worst environmental conditions along coastal Brazil are encountered. The resulting TRAnsfer 3800 tug design has a length of around 38 m, beam of 13 m and hull depth of around 6 m.
The barge is designed with a length of 130 m, breadth of 28 m and depth of 8 m. It will be able to transport 700 TEU containers, including dangerous goods and reefer containers, distributed above and below deck.
Propulsion on the ATB pusher tugs will include two Wärtsilä 6L32 main engines, each delivering 3,200 kW at 750 rpm, powering Schottel Z-drive Rudderpropellers of type SRP 630 with fixed-pitch, 3.4-m propellers.
The barges will be fitted with a 500-kW Schottel SST2 bow thruster, and generator sets capable of powering the anti-heeling system, bow thruster and reefer containers.
Intercon will supply the ATB connecting pins of model 34C, rated to permit the tug to stay in the notch during loading and offloading operations by allowing relative vertical movement of the tug and barge while still connected.
These two ATB convoys will significantly improve the coastal transport market in terms of energy efficiency, operational safety, innovation and crew comfort.
After the construction of these vessels, Rio Maguari Shipyard will have completed 100 vessels designed by Robert Allan Ltd, including a new series of harbour tugs for Maersk subsidiary Svitzer, and other Brazilian owners.
