Sanmar and Rolls-Royce sign LOI for supply of MTU engines

DECEMBER 2, 2015  – Rolls-Royce and Turkish shipbuilder Sanmar Shipyards have signed a letter of intent for the supply of MTU engines.

The Class RAstar 2800-E Azimuth Stern Drive tugs currently being built by Sanmar are to be powered solely by MTU Series 16V 4000 M63 and M63L engines and by a Rolls-Royce or Schottel propeller system.

The engines of this series are extremely efficient, in addition to offering low fuel consumption and low maintenance costs due to a high TBO (Time Between Overhaul).

They also meet EPA Tier 2, IMO Tier II and ZKR II emission standards.

The MTU brand is part of Rolls-Royce Power Systems within the Land & Sea division of Rolls-Royce.

“This collaboration is an important step for us. The Turkish tug market is highly competitive,” said Ekrem Kuraloğlu, Managing Director of MTU Turkey. “Sanmar Shipyards is one of the leading tugboat builders worldwide. With this agreement, MTU is now becoming a key supplier of Sanmar. We are delighted with the trust Sanmar has once again placed in our engines and services.”

MTU and Sanmar have been working together since 2009.

Last year, MTU delivered four 16V 4000 M63L engines for two new Sanmar tugboats with a bollard pull of more than 70 tonnes.

Now another twelve 16V 4000 M63 engines each delivering 2,000 kW are on order for the six RAstar 2800-E Class Azimuth Stern Drive tugs ordered by Maersk Group member Svitzer in August this year (see story).

Sanmar Shipyards will deliver the first of these tugs to Svitzer in the fourth quarter of 2016.

The tug vessels, which deliver a bollard pull of 70 tonnes, will be used in terminals.

Sanmar AS is the largest tugboat operator and builder in Turkey and is recognized as being amongst the leading specialist tug constructors worldwide. Sanmar currently builds high quality and specialized tugboats in its two shipyards in Tuzla and Altinova.