Two of the most advanced ship escort and handling tugs were delivered to a Turkish energy group to reduce emissions at an energy terminal
Botas Petroleum Pipeline Corp has taken delivery of two newbuild escort tugs with some of the most advanced power and propulsion systems installed to date, which produce significantly lower emissions than diesel-powered tugs.
Silivri was the latest of these two 39-m terminal-support tugboats, the first being Sultanhani, both built by Uzmar Shipyard to Robert Allan Ltd’s design TRAktor V3900-DF with dual-fuel /diesel engines driving Voith Schneider propellers (VSP).
These are not only the first two tugs able to run on LNG fuel in Turkey, they are the world’s first LNG-fuelled tractor tugs with VSPs, in what the naval architect describes as a “unique arrangement”.
Both tugs are equipped with Wärtsilä 6L34DF engines and 32X6 VSPs for fast response times and precise manoeuvring when handling gas or oil tankers.This propulsion combination can generate 80 tonnes of bollard pull and 107 tonnes of steering force during escort operation, and 188 tonnes of braking, which is more than double the static bollard pull, and provides these tugs with a free running speed ahead of 12 knots.
“The 32X6 VSP model is the latest innovation in cycloidal propeller design, featuring several improvements over its predecessors, not least of which is a simplified yet more robust design,” said Robert Allan.“The TRAktor V3900-DF series also features a new geometry for the VSP guard plate, optimising bollard pull performance and simplifying construction.”
An exhaust aftertreatment arrangement consisting of selective catalytic reduction units, mixing tubes and a dedicated diesel exhaust fluid system are installed on both vessels to maintain IMO Tier III emissions compliance even in diesel operating mode.
