Robert Allan to design new Navy YT 815 Class tug

YT 815 will be based on commercially successful RAscal 1800-Z tugs built by Sanmar Shipyards in Turkey

Vancouver, B.C., based naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd. has been awarded a contract by Modutech Marine Inc., Tacoma, Wash.to design a new version of the commercially successful RAscal 1800-Z tugs for the U.S. Navy.

This award builds on the success of Robert Allan Ltd.’s Z-Tech 4500 design for the Navy, which currently operates six, identified as the YT 802 Class, and has another six tugs, identified as the YT 808 Class, currently under construction.

The new YT 815 Class tug (with an option for one more) to be built by Modutech Marine will be very similar to ten RAscal 1800-Z tugs built by Sanmar Shipyards in Turkey and delivered to commercial clients in the U.A.E., Turkey, Spain, and New Zealand.

The U.S. Navy version will include updates to suit new EPA Tier 4 engines and associated systems, extensive fendering above and below the waterline to handle U.S. Navy surface ships, submarines and barges as well as incorporating feedback from operators of the existing Z-Tech 4500 tugs. Wherever possible commonality in arrangement and systems to the existing Navy Z-Tech 4500 tugs is being utilized to minimize training hours. The tugs are configured essentially as “day-boats” but also provide accommodations for a crew of up to four persons. Construction of the first tug is to start in 2020.

The new tug will have the following particulars:

Length Overall: 19.2 m (63’-0”)
Beam, Molded: 9.4 m (30’-11”)
Depth, Molded: 3.5 m (11’-6”)
Power: 2 x 970 kW (2 x 1,300 hp)
Bollard Pull: 30 metric tons minimum