Svitzer takes delivery of 80-tons bollard pull ASD tug from Sanmar

Written by Nick Blenkey
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Bigacay class tug for Port of Sohar delivers 80 tons of bollard pull

Turkey’s Sanmar Shipyards has delivered the first of three Bigacay class ASD tugs that will be operated by Svitzer in the Port of Sohar, Oman. The delivery follows the earlier deliveries of two smaller Sirapinar class ASD tugs to the port.

Gary Dockerty, Sales Director (Middle East and Africa)at Sanmar Shipyards says: “The Bigaçay series was developed with our design partners Robert Allan Ltd. (RAL) for Sanmar exclusively and is a variant of the RAstar range described as ‘RAstar 2900SX’ compact tugs aimed at ensuring efficient construction while still meeting the customization requirements of discerning clients.”

The Bigacay class tugs measure 29.4 meters in length with a molded beam of 13.3 meters and an overall draft of 6.0 meters. Power is provided by a pair of CAT 3516C main engines, each delivering 2,525 kW, coupled to Kongsberg US255FP azimuth thrusters for a hefty 80 tons bollard pull.

The design has a sponsoned hull form that provides significantly enhanced escort towing and seakeeping performance.

As well as towage, the other services the tugs will be required to provide are: firefighting, pollution response support and salvage operations within the port.

A comprehensive towing capability is ensured with DMT Marine Equipment supplying a high performance escort towing winch forward along with an aft towing winch on one of the three tugs. Deck equipment also includes a Data Hidrolik anchor windlass and Palfinger deck crane. A main engine-driven external firefighting system provided by FFS A/S. meets FiFi1 notation requirementsvia two forward bridge deck monitors.,

Accommodations are provided for eight persons with master and chief engineer cabins on the main deck and three twin-berth cabins on the lower accommodations deck. All cabins are en-suite and, with the area of operation in mind, a comprehensive HVAC system is included throughout the accommodation and wheelhouse areas.

“We are all very excited to receive the first of the Bigacay class tugs here in Sohar,” said Peter Rosewall, Svitzer Port Manager Sohar. “Svitzer Sohar, the first of the Bigacay class tugs, was recently delivered to Svitzer in Istanbul, and she is a huge step up with bags of power, a lightning fast winch – and being highly manoeuvrable, allows the operations to flow smoothly and quickly. The size and power of the tugs matches nicely with the Valemax vessels regularly calling at Sohar allowing for a higher margin of safety. She is also fitted with FiFi class 1 and provides Sohar port with 24 hour seaborne and quayside firefighting capability needed for the multitude of cargos being transported through the port.”

Bigacay class tugs measure 29.4 meters in length with a molded beam of 13.3 meters and an overall draft of 6.0 meters
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