Foss Newbuild Tugs Feature MTU Engines

Nichols Brothers Boat Builders has set an aggressive time table to deliver four 90-short ton bollard pull tugs to Foss Maritime that represent the company’s push to enhance its fleet with vessels that meet stringent environmental standards.

The 100-foot by 40-foot tugs designed by Jensen Maritime Consultants are multifunctional vessels, capable of ship assist and escort capabilities, towing and fighting fires. The tugs will be deployed to Foss’s fleet on the West Coast.

Pacific Power Group worked with Nichols Brothers to outfit each tug with MTU 16v4000M65L EPA Tier 4 diesel engines with Rolls-Royce US255 azimuth thrusters.

The propulsion system includes an MTU Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) exhaust aftertreatment system, which transforms the exhaust into a harmless mix of nitrogen, oxygen and water.

“It took a lot of design work from our team to get the right SCR configuration,” said Doug Schwedland, PPG’s vice president of the marine division. “This complete system integration will give Foss extremely efficient and environmentally compliant tugs.”

Additionally, the Z drive thrusters allow for 360-degree rotation, which provides the maneuverability required in ship assist and escort work.

Tug companies have come to rely on MTU engines because of the fast load acceptance and high torque levels that make towing vessels agile and safe while providing durability proven in years of use in high load applications.

Nichols Brothers expects to deliver the first four tugs during the next 18 months and has an option from Foss to build an additional six tugs. Foss is focused on an aggressive schedule to complement its fleet with a new generation of tugs that are built to meet increasing environmental regulations on in the marine industry.