ALP Striker delivers 309.6 ton bollard pull

ALP Striker delivered impressive bollard pull test result

SEPTEMBER 16, 2016 — Ulstein reports that ALP Striker —the first of four ultra-long distance towing and anchor handling vessels for Teekay Offshore subsidiary ALP Maritime Services — achieved an bollard of 309.6 t on sea trials. ‘

Delivered on September 12, the DP II vessel is designed for towing very large floating objects while also offering services such as anchor handling, positioning and mooring.

Built by Niigata Shipbuilding & Repair, Japan, ALP Striker is part of the shipowner’s ALP Future class, a series of stronger and larger towing vessels to match and enable increase in size of FPSOs, FLNGs and similar floating installations.

The ALP Striker and her sisters are based on the Ulstein SX 157 design and were developed in close collaboration between ship designer Ulstein Design & Solutions AS and shipowner ALP Maritime Services.

The vessels are able to perform worldwide ocean towage of any distance, as well as positioning and hook-up of floating installations to pre-laid mooring systems, anchoring of installations and floating objects and disconnecting and mooring retrieval as part of repositioning or decommissioning operations.

The vessels are able to do this with minimal fuel bunkering stops, optimal fuel-efficiency with a four-independent engine configuration of four MAK engines producing 24,400 BHP, and high bollard pull. Their Ulstein X-Bow design guarantees optimal course stability and sea keeping in adverse weather and sea conditions.

Service speed is 13 knots, while their top speed is 19 knots. With a fuel capacity of more than 3,500 cu.m they can tow at full power for 45 days, sufficient for non-stop Trans-Atlantic/Indian, Pacific Ocean towing operations without fuel calls.

The vessels are 88.9 m long and 21 m wide.

When developing the design Ulstein had to ensure that each vessel had sufficient bollard pull and operational reliability to enable even the heaviest tows to be carried out by only two vessels.

The vessels are classed with DNV’s Clean Design and Ice Class 1B notations, which allow operation also in restricted zones.

Additionally, they are equipped as anchor handling vessels including stern roller, a three-drum winch with 400 t hoisting capacity, and with chain lockers for rig chain.

The ships have a comfortable and spacious accommodations for 35 persons.