MTU powers Damen navy tugs

The main mechanical propulsion system of the Dutch Navy's hybrid tugs contains two MTU 16V 4000 M63R engines - each delivering 1,840 kW

MARCH 24, 2016 — Rolls-Royce supplied Damen Shipyards Group with a total of ten MTU Series 4000 engines and five MTU Series 2000 engines, along with azimuth thrusters, for five tugs being built for the Dutch and Swedish navies.

The shipbuilder delivered the first of a total of three ASD 2810 Hybrid tugs to the Royal Dutch Navy (RNLN) at the end of February 2016 (see earlier story). That followed its delivery of two new Ice Class tugs of ASD Tug 3010 ICE design to the Swedish Navy at the end of 2015.

Roel van Eijle, Sales Manager, Damen, said: “The MTU engines provide the tugs with excellent maneuverability and are ideally suited to operations carried out by the Dutch and Swedish Navies in port and coastal areas and at sea.”

Knut Müller, Head of Marine, Offshore and Defense Business, Rolls-Royce Power Systems, said: “Rolls-Royce Power Systems and Damen have already successfully completed numerous tug projects in the past. We are delighted about this renewed collaboration and the trust and confidence placed in our MTU engines.”

The Dutch Navy’s hybrid tugs contain a main mechanical propulsion system equipped with two MTU 16V 4000 M63R engines – each delivering 1,840 kW of power – plus a diesel-electric propulsion system, equipped with a 640-kW genset based on a MTU 12V 2000 M41B engine, and batteries.

Tugs equipped with hybrid propulsion can operate in port and coastal areas solely on battery power generated by the diesel engines. Compared with other tugs, hybrid versions use up to 30 per cent less fuel and produce 40 per cent fewer exhaust emissions. Each of the vessels supplied to the Dutch Navy has a maximum bollard pull of 60 tonnes. Among their many duties, the tugs will be given the task of towing military vessels, carrying crew members and positioning floating targets during military exercises.

The two tugs for the Swedish Navy are powered by two MTU 8V 4000 M63 diesel engines, each delivering an output of 1,000 kW. The ICE Class vessels have a reinforced hull and are highly resistant to abrasion and mechanical stress. As all-rounders, they are not only designed to maneuver in waters partly covered in ice, but also to recover torpedoes used in military exercises, and to tow ships, as well as carry military equipment, drinking water, fuel, and up to 12 crew members.

They are equipped with firefighting equipment powered by a 12 cylinder, 600-kW MTU Series 2000 engine.