ART 80-32 Class Rotor®tugs Designed by Robert Allan Ltd. to be Built at Damen Shipyards

In a significant industry milestone, two new ART 80-32 class Rotor®tugs, the first vessels designed for KST B.V. under the recent Agreement naming Robert Allan Ltd. as the exclusive designer of Rotor®tugs, are to be built by the Damen Shipyards group for owners Elizabeth Ltd. This is the first time that the Damen Group will build a design from Robert Allan Ltd., and it is fitting that such a milestone event should be for this discerning Dutch owner. Kotug has provided significant input into the requirements for this design, and Robert Allan Ltd., has developed a unique, customized design optimized for their operations.

These new tugs will incorporate the patented triple Z-Drive Rotor®tug concept, featuring enhanced omni-directional manoeuvrability, and the benefits of a fully redundant and precise propulsion machinery configuration. The Rotor®tugs concept offers increased security for ship-handling and escort towing, as well as enhanced crew safety.

The new tugs are 32m long x 12.6 meters beam, with an installed power of 3 x 1765kW, delivering an expected Bollard Pull of 80 tonnes. The hull form has been developed from Robert Allan Ltd.’s RAstar series of high performance escort tugs. The unique sponsoned shape has been adapted to suit the Rotor®tug concept, and provides enhanced stability, sea-keeping and escort performance far superior to any wall-sided alternative.

The ART 80-32 tugs will also feature a hybrid propulsion system designed and supplied by Aspin, Kemp and Associates. This innovative propulsion system integrates electrical and mechanical energy, and manages it in a way to provide optimal operational modes, resulting in significant environmental and economic savings.

The first of the new Rotor®tug is scheduled for delivery in early 2014.