Workboat News

Sanmar ends 2024 strong with the launch of the first fully electric tugboat to operate in Latin America.Ordered by SAAM Towage, the new tug is based on the exclusive-to-Sanmar ElectRA 2500SX design from naval architects Robert Allan Ltd, and is the eighth fully electric tug Sanmar has built.The tug built for SAAM Towage measures 25.4 x 12.86m with a draft of 5.55m, and with a installed battery capacity 3,616 kWh can achieve a bollard pull ahead of at least 70 tonnes and a speed…

Schottel won an order to supply azimuthing thrusters for four new escort tugs for Seattle-based Saltchuk Marine, the beginning of the renewal of the Saltchuk fleet for operations on the US West Coast, Hawaii, and Alaska.To be built by Eastern Shipbuilding, the vessels are a RApport 2600 design by Canadian naval architect Robert Allan and will measure 25.6 x 12.8m with a 5.5-m draft. Accommodation will be provided for eight persons, and they will be operated by Foss Maritime.Each tug will be equipped with two azimuthing Schottel RudderPropellers of the type SRP 510 each.

ClassNK has classed the ammonia-fueled tugboat ‘Sakigake’ completed by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) and IHI Power Systems Co., Ltd. as an ammonia-fueled vessel. This is the world's first ammonia-fueled vessel for commercial use (as of August 23, 2024, according to research by NYK). The NYK Group company Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha will employ the vessel in tugboat operations in Tokyo Bay over a three-month demonstration period.This vessel was a Green Innovation Fund Project initiated…

Sanmar Shipyards is delivering a new tug for Targe Towing in Scotland. Known as BIGAÇAY Xl while under construction, the tug was renamed Camperdown by its new owners, and was on its way to its new home port of Aberdeen.Camperdown is based on the exclusive-to-Sanmar RAstar 2900SX from Robert Allan Ltd., primarily intended for demanding escort operations in exposed areas.Measuring 29.4 x 13.3m with a 5.5m molded depth and 5.75m design draft, the tug can achieve a minimum of 85 tonnes of bollard pull ahead and astern.

EST-Floattech will be providing the battery system for the purpose-built electric-landing utility vessel (E-LUV) to be built at Coastal Workboats’ new yard Stornoway. The company will also provide the shore-based power supply system.The collaboration with Coastal Workboats Scotland is realized due to Coastal Workboats receiving a £6 million (€7 million) grant to demonstrate the UK's first commercial electric workboat and charging station from the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition.The BV-classed E-LUV is set to be the UK's first commercial electric workboat.

A third battery electric tugboat built by Sanmar Shipyards in Türkiye has been delivered to HaiSea Marine,Canada. Haisea Brave is scheduled to work in Vancouver alongside its sisters HaiSea Wamis and HaiSea Wee'Git before all three – along with two Sanmar-built LNG-fuelled tugs – are transferred to LNG Canada’s new export facility in Kitimat, British Columbia.HaiSea Marine is a joint venture majority owned by the Haisla Nation in partnership with Seaspan ULC, that will provide…

Wabtec Corporation and Latin American Channel Partner, Marinsa International, signed a contract to supply the primary power for 10 new hybrid tractor tugboats for the Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Wabtec will deliver two 8L250MDA marine engines for each tugboat.“Wabtec is delighted to power the new hybrid Panama Canal tugs with the 8L250MDA marine engines,” said Tammy Gromacki, Wabtec’s Vice President of Marine, Stationary and Drill. “We are honored, through our partnership with Marinsa…

Contract signed with Uzmar to deliver TRAnsverse tugs following design collaboration between Robert Allan and SvitzerSvitzer, a part of A.P. Moller-Maersk, awarded a contract to Uzmar Shipyard to build two new TRAnsverse tugs for its Australian business.The TRAnsverse tugs are a tug design created in collaboration with Robert Allan Ltd, desgiend to deliver an estimated 10-15% reduction in fuel use and built to a specification that enables biofuel operations.When delivered, the…

Inland waterways, sometimes called ‘nature’s superhighways’ provide a strategic advantage related to security, economics, and trade for any nation whose geography, topography, and climate enable this natural infrastructure. Economic benefits are realized in small rural areas through large urban communities that utilize the system for efficient transportation and improved markets. However, deliberate operational, resource, and policy efforts, along with broad stakeholder integration, are required to maintain and operate such a system.

Sanmar Shipyards delivered a RAmparts 2400SX class Z-drive tug to Svitzer for its operations in the Dominican Republic.Dubbed Svitzer Rivas, this is the 27th tugboat that Sanmar has delivered to Svitzer, and is based on the exclusive-to-Sanmar RAmparts 2400SX design from Robert Allan Ltd.“Our operations in the Caribbean are key to Svitzer Americas and by expanding and modernising our fleet, we aim to further strengthen our position as the leading towage provider in the Caribbean…

The high-powered tug Spartan joined the Seabulk fleet, featuring a fully integrated hybrid propulsion plant from Berg Propulsion. The tug is already operational at Port Arthur following delivery by Master Boat Builders, and the Robert Allan-designed RApport 3000 vessel is the first of two 90-ton bollard pull tugs using the Berg package, with the second due in service in Q3 2022.In addition to Berg MTA 628 azimuthing thrusters, Berg VS3 variable frequency drives with motors, and its own hybrid control system…

The military force for the Kingdom of Bahrain purchased the self-propelled WorkFloat, a 12 x 6m WorkFloat platform which has the unique ability to fold up -- including all equipment -- and fit into a standard 40-ft. shipping container.The WorlkFloat platform is designed for a range of support tasks, with the version for Bahrain equipped with a 10-tm crane that can lift just under half a ton at 13m, a deck load capacity of over 10t, a 2t deck winch that can be used for mooring work…

A 12m workboat built by Strategic Marine has completed sea trials and was delivered to Tullow Ghana Limited.The vessel will be deployed to offshore deepwater projects in the Gulf of Guinea.To this end the vessel has been fitted with an advanced marine propulsion system, with waterjets designed to provide superior manoeuvrability.The workboat is designed to be launched and retrieved from a larger mothership with a single point lifting hook and will primarily perform line handling and crew transfer duties.

Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) applauded approval by the House Appropriations Committee (by a vote of 33 to 24) of strong funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22). The Committee provided overall funding for the Corps’ Civil Works Mission for FY22 at $8.66 billion, an increase of $863 million above FY21’s appropriated level, and $1.9 billion above the President’s FY22 budget request.“WCI is pleased that the House Appropriations Committee has increased funding for the Corps of Engineers’ critical work…

At Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld, a new model in the Damen Shoalbuster range -- the ultra-shallow Shoalbuster 3514 SD -- was christened Brutus by Mrs Mandy Heere-van Eijk, on behalf of tug and workboat company, Herman Sr.The Shoalbuster 3514 SD measures is 35 x 14 m with a free deck space of 150 sq. m. The vessel has a draft t of 2.85m at full tank capacity and just 2.45m at 50%, allowing it access to waters inaccessible to other vessels of a similar size and capability. Four Caterpillar C32 ACERT engines deliver a total of 3…

Sanmar delivered the second of two flagship twin sister tugboats to Seaspan.Built in 2016 at Sanmar Shipyards Altinova, Bogacay XI was renamed Seaspan Harrier by its new owners and left Turkey for its new home on Canada’s west coast on 15 April. Seaspan acquired the tug’s sister vessel Bogacay Vlll, which it renamed Seaspan Raptor, towards the end of 2020. Seaspan Raptor which was built in 2015, was initially operated by Sanmar in its own fleet. Also like its sister, it is making the 12…

Florida-based transportation and logistics firm SEACOR Holdings Inc announced Monday it has entered into a deal with private equity firm American Industrial Partners (AIP) to take the company private in an all-cash transaction valuing it at about $1 billion, including net debt.SEACOR said New York-based AIP will commence a tender offer to buy all its outstanding shares at $41.50 apiece, a premium of about 14% to the company’s closing stock price on Friday, and a premium of approximately 31% over the 90-calendar day volume weighted average price.The agreement was approved by SEACOR’s board of directors and they recommend that SEACOR stockholders tender their shares in the offer.The deal is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2021.

As the marine industry works to find the ‘fuel of the future’ to address increasingly stringent emission regulations, an interesting development from a trio of marine powers in Japan seeks to develop the world’s first ammonia-fueled tugboat. The joint research and development agreement was signed by NYK, IHI Power Systems Co., Ltd., and ClassNK recently to put the world's first ammonia-fueled tugboat into practical use.With the entry into force of the Paris Agreement in 2016, global momentum for decarbonization has increased…

Med Marine based in Istanbul signed a newbuilding contract with Danish operator, Svitzer for two icebreaking tugboats. The design is new in Med Marine’s portfolio, the TundRA 3000 concept a design from Robert Allan Ltd. Once delivered, the vessels will operate across Scandinavia, predominantly serving ports in Denmark and Sweden.The tugs are designed for operations in the full range of ice conditions, and Med Marine’s Procurement & Technical Group Manager Ertuğrul ÇETİN said “It is a great pleasure for Med Marine to experience the needs of different geographies.

Conrad Industries announced for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, it had net loss of $2.2 million and loss per diluted share of $0.44 compared to net income of $4.7 million and earnings per diluted share of $0.94 during the second quarter of 2018. The company had net loss of $2.5 million and loss per diluted share of $0.50 for the six months ended June 30, 2019 compared to net income of $5.3 million and earnings per diluted share of $1.06 for the six months ended June 30, 2018. Results for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018 included $7.5 million from the Deepwater Horizon Court-Supervised settlement. The company’s financial reports are available online.During the first six months of 2019…

Damen Shipyards Group has announced that it will be presenting its new design of Shoalbuster to the maritime market during the upcoming Seawork Marine and Workboat Exhibition in Southampton next week. Damen has developed the new 27 meter long, 11 meter wide vessel in response to recent Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) changes concerning crew accommodation capacity.Damen introduced the first Shoalbuster 25 years ago with a view to combine the bollard pull of a Tug with the shallow draught of a Multi Cat.

DESMI KaziCat is a true Multi-Purpose Catamaran Vessel despite its compact size; just below 24 meters at waterline and 9.6 meters in width. Meaning it fulfills the MCA category 2 requirements allowing operation up to 60 nautical miles from safe haven.What is unique for this vessel is its modular design concept allowing shift of operation mode within the hour. The KaziCat can carry up to 4 x 20’ ISO containers carrying the various equipment allowing the vessel to handle the more…

McAllister Towing selected Schottel to provide propulsion units for a new-built escort and harbor tug. The tug, under construction at Washburn & Doughty, will feature a pair of Schottel type SRP 490 Rudderpropellers  with an input power of 2,525 kW each, delivering an expected bollard pull of about 82 tons.The contract continues a relationship between the iconic American tug company and the German maritime propulsion maker, and in fact it was more than 30 years ago that McAllister was Schottel’s first towing customer in the U.S.