New Class of Compact Tugboats Turning Heads

Press Release January 16, 2013

BRAtt Workboat: Photo courtesy of Robert Allan

Originally conceived as a training vessel, the Robert Allan designed BRAtt has developed into a class of small but tough workboats.

Adrenalin Marine Ltd. of Delta, B.C. was chosen as the licensed builder for all BRAtts in North America and to date has built three of these innovative new vessels.

The BRAtt is not only a very cost-effective tug for training, but an ultra-compact workboat which can operate in small ports and perform specialized functions such as ship-handling, line-handling, yarding, boom deployment, etc. BRAtt designs are now available in a range of sizes, from 7 metres to 10 metres, in both aluminum and steel construction.

These diminutive workboats, have all the functionality of a full sized tug – from a fully operational ship-handling winch to modern fully azimuthing Z-drives. This gives the operator the opportunity to train personnel in a realistic environment with all of the associated real world variables. Risks and costs are reduced significantly during training as no additional crew are required, and running costs are much less. Similarly, the BRAtt can perform everyday small tug duties in a fully functional manner, and it is this capability which has surprisingly attracted the most attention to this exciting “MicroTug” since its introduction.

The three BRAtt designs either built or in production to date are:
    •    BRAtt 780-AE (7.8m Aluminum Escort)
    •    BRAtt 880-SU (8.8m Steel Utility)
    •    BRAtt 880-SL (8.8m Steel Line-handling)

While the original BRAtt is of all-welded aluminum construction and has been classified as a BRAtt 780-AE, a recently built pair for Suncor Energy are constructed with a steel hull and aluminum house, and the two new BRAtt 880-SU workboats are ice-strengthened utility vessels.

The propulsion machinery consists of two Cummins QSB5.9-230 HD diesel engines, each rated 168 Kw at 2,600 rpm., driving Olympic HD-3 drives through ZF reduction gearboxes. The deck machinery comprises two hydraulic barge connecting winches with a maximum brake holding capacity of 7.1 tonnes (16,000 lbs.) each.