Houston-based Bay-Houston Towing has awarded a contract to Sterling Shipyard in Port Neches, Texas to build multiple Robert Allan Ltd. designed RAstar 3200-W tugs.
The RAstar 3200-W is a high-performance ASD ship handling and escort tug designed for berthing/unberthing large ships and providing escort and emergency response in exposed coastal areas with demanding sea states. According to Robert Allan's website, the 3200-W tugs are approximately 105'x43', and have a maximum draft of 21.3'.
A pair of EMD 16 E23B HD Tier 4 EPA-compliant engines will power two model SRP-610 FP Schottel drives. The tugs unique sponsoned RAstar hull form coupled with 8,800 hp is designed to produce 116 short tons (105 metric tonnes) of direct bollard pull. During indirect tethered escort modes, the tugs are designed to generate sustainable steering and braking forces in excess of 115 tonnes and 162 tonnes respectively at escort speeds of up to 10 knots.
“The addition of the RAstar 3200-W further diversifies our fleet and provides an extremely powerful package with enhanced seakeeping features designed to assist the largest ships in all types of environmental conditions. The new tugs will complement our large number of existing low emission vessel Tier 4 tugs and they align with our commitment to provide industry with high-performing and emission-friendly tugs,” Kevin Lenz, vice president of Bay-Houston, said in a statement.
The deck machinery package will consist of a forward winch, aft winch and an aft capstan. The bow will be fitted with 800' of 10" HMPE synthetic line layered on a Markey Machine DESF-52-AGILE Electric-class III hawser winch. The 200 HP hawser winch allows the tug to render and recover the line while maintaining maximum towline forces. It includes scope feedback and a line tension display system with tension set points. The stern will be fitted with a Markey TES-40UL electric tow winch capable of storing up to 2,500' of 2-1/2”-dia. wire rope designed to meet ABS requirements.
A pair of John Deere 6090AFM85 EPA Tier 3 and IMO III compliant gensets, each rated for continuous operation at 200 kW, will provide electrical power.
