Marine News, March 2005

<BODY> <div> 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 communi- ty with a wide range of specialized work- boat 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 construc- tion around the world, including a myriad of high-performance tugboats of all types, fireboats, crewboats, patrol craft, ferries, and barges. The following are some high- lights of current Robert Allan Ltd. pro- jects that will be delivered in the early months of 2005. Europe In January the highly advanced AVT 37/65-E Escort Tug for Østensjø Rederi AS of Norway will start trials out of Gon- dan 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 stan- dard 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. 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 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 con- tract for the construction of a series of the new AZT 26/60 Class Z-drive tractor tugs (Figure No. 4). These tugs will serve var- ious 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, 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 Caspi- an Sea, due for delivery mid-year, and these will be followed by a series of cus- tomized 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 RAm- parts 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 opera- tions 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 pro- gram 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 opera- tions. 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. 20 • MarineNews March, 2005 Tugboat Tech RAL Leaves Its Indelible Mark Circle 253 on Reader Service Card ASD 24/40 Class Tug S/N Jaua for Sulnotre of Brazil MN MARCH05 3(17-24).qxd 3/4/2005 11:09 AM Page 20 </div> <span id="lblContents"></span> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.digitalwavepublishing.com/" title="Digital Magazine">Digital Wave Publishing</a> </BODY>