Sanmar Shipyards - Experts & Thought Leaders

Ceremonies and celebrations were recently held in Vancouver harbour for a pair of ElectRA 2300-SX battery electric tugs designed by Robert Allan Ltd. and built by Türkiye’s Sanmar Shipyards.  Both tugs are owned and operated by SAAM Towage Canada and represent major milestones in the Port of Vancouver’s goal of becoming the world’s most sustainable, as well as SAAM Towage’s leadership in the drive to the decarbonisation of harbour operations. Neptune terminals in Vancouver They are also ideal for ship-berthing and unberthing work at Neptune terminals in Vancouver The close collaboration between Robert Allan Ltd, Sanmar Shipyards, and SAAM Towage was key to yielding a tug pair that are perfectly optimised for emissions-free ship-docking operations in their home port. With compact 23-metre lengths and outstanding manoeuvrability, they are perfectly suited for operations between the tight “finger piers” where many ships are docked in Vancouver. They are also ideal for ship-berthing and unberthing work at Neptune terminals in Vancouver where their environmental credentials were instrumental in winning them a contract to provide towage services. Their exceptional manoeuvrability is a product of a concerted effort during the design to give them handling characteristics tuned to the preferences of SAAM Towage Canada’s crews. After surveying SAAM’s local Tug Masters, Robert Allan Ltd. embarked on a series of live trials to quantify handling characteristics that these captains identified as most favourable. Using a specialised sensor package, and closely listening to what the Tug Masters said they could feel, it was possible to establish a quantified baseline for what the new design should ideally achieve. Specific manoeuvring characteristics The tool was also used to check that directional stability would be on par with expectations Predictions of the performance of the new tugs were made using a proprietary CFD-based manoeuvring tool which was validated using the earlier trials. Using this tool, it was possible to establish that the new design, for which underwater features were customised to suit the desired performance, should indeed deliver the specific manoeuvring characteristics that SAAM’s crews had identified as being optimal. The tool was also used to check that directional stability would be on par with expectations. Part of the magic of these tugs is in how this is achieved while also yielding their tremendous manoeuvrability. Hull design is critical to the goal, and one of the other keys is a relatively minimalistic and strategically shaped single skeg that has low drag in all directions, and the benefit of reduced energy consumption in transit. Significance of success transcends Handling, concert, and manoeuvring parts were exactly what had been hoped for Sea trials proved that the efforts were a major success. Handling, performance, and manoeuvring characteristics were exactly what had been hoped for, and SAAM was delighted with the results. There is perhaps no greater endorsement of how these tugs perform than SAAM’s decision very shortly thereafter to order a new ElectRA 2500-SX design (also from Sanmar Shipyards) to operate in Chile. The only caveat was that the existing 25-metre design be updated to have a geometrically similar underwater hull and appendages to the 23-metre tugs that they like so much! That work is underway, with delivery of the ElectRA 2500-SX expected in 2025. The significance of this success transcends the project itself. A new benchmark has been achieved in the degree of customisation that can be achieved in terms of a tug’s manoeuvrability and performance when working in close collaboration with an owner-client and its crews. This can be applied to future projects as well, where preferences may differ from one location to another. Port of Vancouver’s ECHO program SAAM Canada is saved to the drop of underwater cast noise and recognised the benefits Boosting the already impressive handling characteristics afforded by the custom hull and appendages is the phenomenal acceleration that arises from the electrical propulsion system, and which puts the tugs in a completely different class than mechanically driven tugs. This performance is delivered with vastly reduced vibrations, as well as noise both aboard and radiated underwater. As a proud member of both Green Marine and the Port of Vancouver’s ECHO program, SAAM Canada is dedicated to the reduction of underwater radiated noise and recognised the benefits of battery electric propulsion in selecting such a vessel for its operations. The electrical system is powered by a very impressive battery installation, which itself sets a new standard for the total capacity that can be installed in a compact tug. Featuring 3,616 kWh of lithium-ion batteries, these tugs pack significant onboard energy storage. That capacity translates into the ability for these relatively high-usage harbour tugs to perform their missions on battery power alone. With charging from the local hydroelectric power grid in as little as one to two hours, these tugs can quickly get out to the next job and accommodate a busy schedule. Tugs’ maximum performances The drops for the tug pair are on par with removing over 600 cars off the road Each of these tugs is expected to reduce emissions by over 1,200 tonnes of CO2 per year from tank-to-wake (and even more from well-to-wake) compared to diesel counterparts. Emissions of NOX, SOX, CO, and particulate matter will all be zero as well when operating on their generous battery banks. The reductions for the tug pair are on par with removing over 600 cars off the road. Impressive as these tugs’ maximum performances may be, they also perform their missions with exceptional finesse. The electrical propulsion system affords fine control of thrust including at very low speeds. This affords the Master additional control in feathering up against an assisted ship, with soft contact ensured by virtue of the extended cylindrical fendering system (with a custom durometer) to keep pressures below 20 tonnes/m2 even when applying the full bollard pull of 70 tonnes. Off-ship fire-fighting system The rest of the crew, which can be as few as two or three persons in total depending on the operation, can appreciate the ergonomics of the clean and flush working deck, as well as the comfortable and exceptionally quiet accommodations which are entirely located above the deck. Sanmar Shipyards is already nearing the completion of a third tug for its own towing fleet Just as pleased with the ElectRA 2300-SX as their own customer, Sanmar Shipyards is already nearing the completion of a third tug for their own towing fleet. Featuring an FFV1 (2,400 m3/hour) off-ship fire-fighting system, yet another custom skeg for escort, and a battery capacity tuned to their individual needs, Dinamo 2023 as it is named, is only the next iteration in what stands to be a popular series of compact battery electric tugs. Key Particulars Length, overall: 23.40 metres Beam, moulded: 11.85 metres Depth, least moulded: 4.94 metres Maximum draft (navigational): 5.50 metres Gross tonnage: 295 tons Capacities Batteries: 3,616 kWh, split between two battery rooms Charging time: 1-2 hours (customisable) Complement: 2x crew (also available in configuration for 4x crew) Class Notation ✠ A1, Towing Vessel, ✠ AMS, ✠ ABCU, BP (70.83 MT), QR, ESS-LiBattery, UWILD Also available with optional fire-fighting (FFV1), underwater radiated noise (URN), and escort notations. Major Machinery Corvus Orca energy storage and battery management systems: with customisable installed capacity plus an option for alternative makes and types of lithium-ion batteries 2x Schottel SRP 460 LE FP L-drives with 2,100 kW electric motors and 2.7-metre diameter fixed pitch propellers in SDV45XPA high-efficiency nozzles 2x CAT C32 backup power gensets, 940 ekW each, IMO Tier III with switchable SCRs Elkon E-drive system with 1000 VDC multi-drive switchboards and power management system DMT electric deck machinery featuring: TW 021 E 250 kN hawser winch AW 100 E16c anchor winch Performance Bollard pull (ahead and astern): 70.8 tonnes Speed: 13 knots Side-stepping: 7+ knots

After a rigorous and competitive process KOTUG Canada has selected Türkiye’s Sanmar Shipyards to build two RAsalvor 4400-DFM dual fuel methanol escort tugs – Robert Allan Ltd. design – to service the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMEP). These tugs will escort tankers from the harbour limits of the Port of Vancouver to the open Pacific Ocean through the commercial shipping lanes of the Salish Sea. To provide this service, KOTUG Canada has partnered with Sc’ianew First Nation from Beecher Bay, which is strategically located along the shipping route. Significant environmental benefits These two innovative tugs, to be named SD AISEMAHT and SD QWII-AAN’C SARAH in honour of the Sc’ianew First Nation, are scheduled to be the world’s first large purpose-built high bollard pull methanol fuelled tugs when they enter service in 2025 and will provide significant environmental benefits to further reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and underwater radiated noise. Sanmar Shipyards has been building pioneer high-quality tugs for Robert Allan Ltd. designs The relationship between Vancouver, BC based Robert Allan Ltd. and KOTUG dates back many years with KOTUG operating over a dozen Robert Allan Ltd. designed high bollard pull harbour and offshore ASD and Advanced Rotortug (ART) vessels internationally. Similarly, for almost thirty years, Sanmar Shipyards has been building pioneer high-quality tugs for Robert Allan Ltd. designs, including battery electric, LNG fuelled and tugs for the BC market. Sustainable towage services “We are pleased to work again with Robert Allan Ltd. and look forward to our long-awaited cooperation with Sanmar, which is one of the leading tugboat builders in the world. I am proud that we continue our active green policy to provide sustainable towage services by building and operating two powerful high bollard pull methanol fuelled escort tugs,” said Ard-Jan Kooren, President & CEO of KOTUG International and Executive Director of KOTUG Canada. “I am honoured to ink the contract of these unique first methanol fuelled new-build tugboats in the world. We have been building over the years the new generation of cleaner and greener tugboats to meet the environmental targets in the maritime industry, this is another very important milestone,” said Ali Gurun, Chairman of Sanmar Shipyards. Powerful escort tugs The RAsalvor 4400-DFM escort tugs will measure 44 metres in length  “The RAsalvor 4400-DFM has been customised to meet the demanding operational and environmental requirements for this project. As a company based in Vancouver where these vessels will be operating, we are keenly aware of the crucial role these escort tugs will play going forward. We are gratified that KOTUG Canada has chosen to utilise these world leading tugs for such an important project in our own backyard,” said Michael Fitzpatrick, President & CEO of Robert Allan Ltd. The RAsalvor 4400-DFM escort tugs will measure 44 metres in length and are an evolution of Robert Allan Ltd.’s acclaimed escort tugs which operate in some of the harshest environments in the world. With over 115 tonnes of bollard pull they’ll be Canada’s most powerful escort tugs. Powerful escort tugs Both vessels will be equipped with a mechanical cross link system between the azimuth thrusters to enable a single engine to drive both propellers. They will also be equipped with main engine driven shaft generators to satisfy the vessel’s normal electrical needs. These features will allow the crews to optimise engine loading and significantly reduce fuel consumption These features will allow the crews to optimise engine loading and significantly reduce fuel consumption and running hours of the main engines and gensets. Combined, these features will reduce the tugs underwater radiated noise, mitigating the effects of shipping on the Salish Sea’s Southern Resident Killer Whales. Additionally, KOTUG is having the hulls of both tugs coated with a graphene paint to reduce biofouling and enhance hull-smoothness which reduces underwater radiated noise and makes the vessels more fuel efficient. Commercial marine traffic The escort tugs are equipped with firefighting equipment meeting the requirements of American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)’s FFV 1 notation and will have the largest spill response capabilities of any tugs on the BC coast to mitigate the risk of marine spills to the Salish Sea and communities from laden tankers as well as other commercial marine traffic. High quality onboard equipment will include heavy duty electric winches fit fore and aft for reduced noise and to significantly reduce the risk of a hydraulic oil spill into the environment. The forward escort system has been customised to suit the requirements of the local pilots for tankers utilising the TMEP. The aft towing system with a dual drum winch with 2 x 1,000 m of steel wire is among the largest fit to an escort tug and combined with the vessel’s exceptional manoeuvrability provides the capability to perform emergency towage of vessels along the route that may find themselves in distress. Reduced environmental impact Particular attention has been paid to minimise noise and vibration aboard the vessel Inside, the accommodation will include spacious dedicated cabins and ensuites for all regular crew, all with natural light, and well in excess of regulatory standards. To facilitate training and additional response capability, extra berths will be provided for use by Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC) spill response technicians.  Particular attention has been paid to minimise noise and vibration aboard the vessels, with a crew comfort (habitability) class notation to be assigned by ABS along with ENVIRO and SUSTAIN notations demonstrating the projects reduced environmental impact. They encourage readers to stay tuned to their social media accounts for regular updates as these inspiring vessels come to life at Sanmar’s world class facilities.

Sanmar Shipyards in Turkey have placed an order for a pair of MAN 12V175D-MM marine prime movers. The 2 x 2,040 kW-rated propulsion engines were selected to provide power for a new generation 60 TBP TRAnsverse tug. Both engines will be supplied along with MAN Energy Solutions’ versatile and efficient SCR exhaust gas after-treatment system, enabling the vessel to meet IMO Tier III emission standards. TRAnsverse tug design The engines and accompanying SCR systems will be supplied direct to Sanmar from the MAN Energy Solutions production facility in Denmark, with a delivery scheduled for December 2022, while vessel completion is planned for Q3 2023. “Svitzer is extremely excited with the new and very innovative TRAnsverse tug design which we have developed in collaboration with Robert Allan Ltd.” Engine size and power requirement We believe we have found the right balance between engine size and power requirement" “The compact 26-meter version of the TRAnsverse tug called for ‘short’ Tier III engines. With the MAN 175D engine, we believe we have found the right balance between engine size and power requirement.” “Our experience with this type of engine is good and we recently used this type of engine for two icebreaking tugs delivered last year,” Svitzer’s Chief Operating Officer, Ingrid Uppelschoten Snelderwaard, said. RAL-designed tugboat Hakan Tunç, Engineering Director of Sanmar Shipyards, said, “The excellent collaboration between Sanmar, Svitzer, and MAN Energy Solutions’ technical and commercial departments has resulted in optimisation at every stage of the development of this innovative TRAnsverse 2600 tugboat design, including its power, crew safety, and environmental impact.” “We are proud to be the builder of this extremely special Svitzer-created and RAL-designed tugboat. We are also happy to try the high-speed MAN engine with its SCR solution in this special project.” Performance and operational cost benefits Benjamin Andres, Head of High Speed, MAN Energy Solutions, said, “This is just the latest reference for the MAN 175D engine within the tug market sector.” “It demonstrates that the engine is ideally suited to such a demanding application, where its technical and economical credentials stand it in good stead, while its compactness, performance, and operational cost benefits are all seen as key aspects for our customers.”