Damen Shipyards has launched its newly designed ASD Tug 3212 at the International Tug and Salvage Convention (ITS) in Barcelona. This tug in the 85 t BP range is the result of three years of research and has been designed to operate in all circumstances.
The ASD 3212 features numerous new features, including a completely revised hull form and a higher bow, resulting in better speed and a dry foredeck. It has a maximum bollard pull of 85 tons, sails with 14.5 knots and is tested to operate in 3 meter wave height. Other features are, for example, super-absorbent fenders and a new Render/Recovery winch. Four of the new 3212s have been delivered to clients in Australia, Colombia and the Netherlands and ten are currently under construction.
Operating in Higher Waves with More Power
Mr Coen Boudesteijn, Damen Product Director Tugs, comments: ‘Many projects for tug operators are now in more open and challenging waters, such as those off Northern Australia, so there is a need to be able to cope with higher wave heights and for more powerful tugs, given the increasing size of tankers and container vessels.’
Performance
Courtesy of Multraship, the shipyard momentarily showcases the Multratug 19 at the ITS. This vessel is one of the new ASD Tugs in the 80 ton bollard pull range and the first with the Standard propulsion installation of 5050 kW. During its sea trials, the Multratug 19 achieved 85 t BP and a speed of almost 15 knots.
New Hull Form
To improve the sea keeping and towing capabilities in waves, Damen conducted extensive in-house R&D, as well as at the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (Marin). The ASD Tug 3212 has a completely revised hull form with a more pronounced “V shape” in the fore ship and more slender water lines in the bow region. Additionally, it has a higher bow with a more flared and slender shape, resulting in a dry fore deck. The vessel also has a relatively low wheelhouse, slope frames and bilge keels, guaranteeing low accelerations for improved crew comfort.
Crew Safety and Comfort
The tug, which has a capacity for a maximum crew of 10, complies with the latest IMO and MLC 2006 crew and comfort regulations. Noise and vibrations are kept to a minimum due to flexibly mounted main engines and flexible drive couplings. The accommodation and wheelhouse have a floating floor to keep noise levels within 55 dB and vibration levels to a minimum.
The wheelhouse design gives good all round visibility and has a user friendly layout. Comfortable, air-conditioned accommodation is provided, with all cabins above the waterline. Officers have a 7.5 sq m cabin, with a standing height of 2.2 m.
Propulsion
Main engines are the Caterpillar 3516C TA/D, giving 1600-1800 RPM and very quick acceleration: high torque at low RPM. The ASD 3212 incorporates new Rolls-Royce rudder propulsion, with large controllable pitch propellers.
The yard is currently building a series, including two with Ice Class Notation. By March, four had been sold and twelve deliveries are expected for 2012.
Ship Particulars
– Revised hull form for higher speed
– Dry foredeck due to higher bow
– Operational excellence in 3 m wave height
– 85 tons Bollard Pull
– 14.5 knots sailing speed
– Crew can see and operate everything from the main deck
– New type of Render/Recovery Winch
– New type of Towing Bitt
– New super-absorbent Bow Fender
– Options, incl. ICE-class, Fi-Fi 1, aft crane and aft winch
Render/Recovery Winch
While working in a high swell there can be slack rope events. Therefore a key element of the new vessel is the specially designed Render/Recovery Winch. This was developed together with Bosch Rexroth and another Damen Shipyards Group member, Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam.
First Fully Lloyd’s Classified Winch
The fully automatic winch is the first in the market that has been fully classified by Lloyd’s Register. This classification process means the winch is now proven for the tough conditions off Northern Australia for instance.
Winch Performance
The hydraulically powered, double drum winch (with one running and one on standby) has a maximum brake holding load of a massive 200 tons, a recovery capacity of 60 tons at 50m/min and a rendering capacity of 100 tons at 100m/min. With these performances the winch is prepared for the harmonised rules for escort tugs coming into force in the near future. The winch is equipped with two Hagglunds CB840 motors and the motors are directly on the main shaft so no gearbox is required.
New Bow Fenders
A new super-absorbent bow fender design has been developed for maximum energy absorption. It consists of a double cylindrical rubber fender. After extensive non-linear finite element analyses, this was validated by full-scale tests with loads up to a massive 640 tons. The tests also found that when pushing at maximum bollard pull, the contact pressure should not exceed 20t/m2.
