Celebrating 75 Years of Ship Design

In 2005, Robert Allan Ltd will celebrate its 75th year of continuous business as a firm of Consulting Naval Architects. From its base in Vancouver, the company serves the international marine community with a wide range of specialized workboat designs, as it has done since its inception, through three generations of family ownership. The company has experienced considerable growth in the past decade, and currently has more than 30 vessels to its designs under construction around the world, including a myriad of high-performance tugboats of all types, fireboats, crewboats, patrol craft, ferries, and barges. The following are some highlights of current Robert Allan Ltd. projects that will be delivered in the early months of 2005.

Europe

In January the highly advanced AVT 37/65-E Escort Tug (Figure No. 1) for Østensjø Rederi AS of Norway will start trials out of Gondan Shipyard in Northern Spain. With an unusual hull form, a novel skeg design, and the world's first application of the new Voith Turbo-Fin device, this 121.4 ft. (37 m), 5,000 kW tug will set a new standard in escort towing performance. Also in Spain, Unión Naval Valencia have just launched the first two in a series of three RAmparts 2400-A Class ASD tugs (Figure No. 2). Based on the same successful compact hull form as the tug Blackadder built in new Zealand in 2003, this new design features a full crew accommodation facility, and an increased fuel capacity for greater range. In Italy, Cantieri Navali Termoli are making good progress on two AVT 27/60 Class Voith tractor tugs (Figure No. 3) for Rimorchiatori Riuniti of Genoa. The first of these very compact, powerful harbor tugs is due for completion in the first quarter of 2005. Further south, Fratelli Neri of Livorno will soon award a contract for the construction of a series of the new AZT 26/60 Class Z-drive tractor tugs (Figure No. 4). These tugs will serve various ports along the Mediterranean coast of Italy.

Middle East

Turkey continues to be bustling with new tugs building to Robert Allan Ltd. designs, including the following: Sanmar Deniczilik of Istanbul is just completing the second of two RAmparts 3200 Class ASD tugs, a sister to the 105 ft. (32 m), 67 ton BP Achille Onorato (Figure No. 5), delivered in July 2004 to Rimorchiatori Sardi of Sardinia. Sanmar are also building two more of the successful, economic, 82 ft. (25 m) twin-screw Dogancay Class tugs, and two more 72 ft. (22 m) twin-screw Nehir Class tugs, all Robert Allan Ltd. designs. Uzmar Uzmanlar of Izmir are building two Robert Allan Ltd. designed ASD 30/65 Class tugs for service in the Caspian Sea, due for delivery mid-year, and these will be followed by a series of customized RAmparts 3000 Class tugs for Uzmar's own stable. Med Marine are building a compact twin-screw tug of the TS 22/40 Class, and will shortly begin construction of the first of a series of Robert Allan Ltd.'s well-proven ASD 24/45 Class tug which has been built in numerous copies throughout North and South America. Med Marine are also putting the finishing touches on a RAmparts 2500 Class tug with 3,520 kW for ARPAS. Another TS 22/40 Class tug is building for DEKAS Maritime Pilotage. One of the most anticipated projects in the New Year will be the multi-tug contract for the new ASD 36/70-E Class tugs designed for IRSHAD, the marine operations arm of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. These powerful terminal/escort tugs will serve ADNOC's port facilities throughout the Middle East, and will be the world's first dedicated ASD Escort tugs. The result of an ongoing R&D program performed by Robert Allan Ltd. in conjunction with the Institute of Marine Dynamics in Newfoundland, the hull form of these tugs incorporates features designed to enhance indirect towing forces and high-angle stability required in these demanding escort towing operations. These same features result in a hull with exceptional sea-keeping capabilities, thus offering much greater comfort and less fatigue to the crews. The RFP for this project is expected to be in shipyards very early in the New Year.

South Asia

In Sri Lanka, another facet of Robert Allan Ltd.'s work is taking shape at Colombo Dockyards Ltd., with the construction of the first of the new RAlly series of aluminium crewboats. The RAlly 3000 and RAlly 3300 designs, 98.4 ft. (30 m) and 108.2 ft. (33 m) respectively (Figure Nos. 6 and 7), feature robust construction, with a multi-chine hull form proven through numerous prototypes to offer a good turn of speed and excellent sea-keeping.

Southeast Asia

In Singapore, the RAmparts 2400 Class tug Kaori (Figure No. 8), was just recently delivered by President Marine to SORA of Noumea, a division of Compagnie Maritime Chambon of France. This class of original "compact" tug, 78 ft. (23.8 m) length with 2,610 kW, produces 42 tons BP, offering a powerful and economic package for harbour ship-handling operations. PSA Marine of Singapore continue to work with Robert Allan Ltd., marketing the highly successful Z-Tech ASD tug designs to the world market. Orders have now been placed for eight tugs of the 88.6 ft. (27 m) Z-Tech 6000 Class, like the first of Class Indee (Figure No. 9). Labroy Marine of Singapore are well underway with construction of the first of the 164 ft. (50 m), 8,000 bhp RAmpage 5000 Class Offshore Support Tugs (Figure No. 10) for Seabulk Offshore Ltd. Completion is anticipated mid-year.

China

A 7,000 ton DWT, bulk cement handling barge for Lehigh Northwest Cement Company of Seattle is nearing completion at Jinling Shipyard, under the Project Management of Seaspan (Cyprus) Ltd. As recently announced, Robert Allan Ltd. have just been awarded the contract for new RAmparts 3200 Class tugs for the Ningbo Port Group Ltd., marking the first time ever a Chinese Port Authority has gone outside of China for a new tug design. The well-proven 104.9 ft. (32 m) tug design will be customized for the port's requirements and a larger crew size than would be normal in Europe or North America (Figure No. 11).

North America

Irving Shipbuilders East Isle Shipyard Division on Prince Edward Island continue to turn out the Robert Allan Ltd. designed ASD 30/60 Class tugs for numerous international clients, with a recent order for the 18th tug of this series. Halifax Shipyard is building a second of the ASD 33/70 Class tugs for Danish Owner Nordane Shipping A/S. In Mississippi, Colle Towing are making good progress with their self-construction of a RAmparts 3000 Class tug. Foss Rainier Shipyard in Oregon are building another two of their Dolphin Class 4,670 bhp ASD tugs for Foss Maritime LLC, following the successful delivery of the first of Class Mikioi (Figure No. 12) to Hawaiian Tug & Barge in 2004. This is one of several projects for which Robert Allan Ltd. have provided a complete 3-D structural model for NC parts cutting and erection, using ShipConstructor software. Upriver in Portland, Oregon, Diversified Marine Inc. are building another ASD 23/45 Class tug for Brusco Tug & Barge, Inc., a sister ship to the Wynema Spirit built in 2002, having just completed two RAmparts 2500 Class tugs, the Tim Quigg, and John Quigg for Harley Marine Services, Inc. The latter tugs are now successfully operating in Long Beach and San Francisco respectively. In addition to these construction projects, early in the New Year the following Robert Allan Ltd. design projects will be going out to shipyard bid in the US, or worldwide: • 65.6 ft. (20 m) Fast Response Fireboat for the City of Philadelphia • 85.3 ft. (26 m), Fire/Patrol vessel for the City of Portland, Maine • RAmparts 2500 Class Tug for Wilmington Tug, Inc. • RApier 1100 Class Fast Patrol Boats for the New York City Police • A 492 ft. (150 m), 20 knot Ulysses Class Trailer Ferry

South America

Following the successful completion of three RAmparts 3000 Class ASD tugs last year, including the Rebras Jaú (Figure No. 13), REBRAS of Rio de Janeiro are planning the construction of a series of RAmparts 2500 Class tugs. Construction is expected to commence in the second quarter of 2005. Astromarítima Navegação S.A., also of Rio de Janeiro, have also accepted two 3,420 kW versions of the RAmparts 3000 Class tugs over recent months. Sulnorte of Brazil have just completed construction of the ASD 24/40 Class tug S/N Jaua (Figure No. 14) for their own fleet. In Manaus, a long way up the Amazon River, two Robert Allan Ltd. designed ASD 26/50 Class tugs are also under construction. Based on the above, 2005 promises to be an extremely active year for Robert Allan Ltd., building on an incredibly busy and successful 2004.