Marine Log - August 2007 - (Page 39) TUGS Moran Towing has been upgrading its fleet with Z-drive tugs such as the Eleanor Moran to meet the increasing demand for escort services from large vessels Z I www.marinelog.com DRIVES MAKE THEIR MARK begin to see less ‘madness’ and more rational reasons for the surge in newbuildings. That is not to say that we could face another downturn in the future—we always seem to be moving between periods of feast or famine and the cycles between the peaks and the valleys seem to be shortening.” As of about mid July, there were about 548 tugs or “towing/ pushing” vessels over 299 grt under construction worldwide, according to data compiled by Lloyd’s Register Fairplay. Of those tugs, 48 are on order or under construction in the U.S., including a large portion with Zdrives specified. A major player in the U.S. tug newbuilding market has been Moran Towing, New Canaan, Conn. One of its newest fleet additions is the 5,100-hp Z-drive escort tug Eleanor Moran, which has begun working in the Port of Norfolk, Va. Built by Washburn & Doughty Associates, Inc., East Boothbay, Maine, the Eleanor F. Moran is one of a series of new 92 ft x 32 ft, 5,100 hp, Z-drive firefighting tugs for Moran. Propulsion for the Eleanor F. Moran is supplied by Schottel SRP 1215 fixed pitch Z-drives that are driven by two EMD 12-645F7B main engines that each produce 2,550 hp at 900 rev/min. Auxiliary power for the Eleanor F. Moran is supplied by John Deere 6068TFM76, Tier 2 emissions certified 1,800 rev/min marine engines providing 99KW, 120/208 VAC, 3 phase power. One generator is normally on-line while the other is on standby. An IPS switchboard in the engine room handles distribution for the 208-V three-phase power. On deck, the tug has a Markey Machinery DEPC-48 electric hawser winch forward and a Markey CEWC 60 electric stern hawser capstan aft. The Eleanor F. Moran is well equipped for firefighting operations and is classed ABS Maltese Cross A1 Towing, Maltese Cross AMS, with Escort Notation, Towing Service, Maltese Cross A1 Fire Fighting Vessel, Class 1. The Firefighting 1 classification requires two monitors to each produce 5,280 gal/min for a distance of 394 ft at a height of 148 ft, as well as a deluge system and the ability to sustain firefighting operations for a minimum of 24 consecutive hours. Firefighting 1 equipment includes two Caterpillar 3412C engines rated at 900 hp at 2,100 rev/min and Nijhuis HGTFI1-250.500 pumps located in the engine AUGUST 2007 MARINE LOG 39 s the current new construction activity in the tug market irrational? Bob Beegle doesn’t think so. Beegle, a respected vessel broker and president of Marcon International, Inc., thinks there are very solid reasons for what he calls the current “newbuilding flurry.” Writing in Marcon’s July Tug Report, he quotes one U.S. operator as calling the current situation the “Perfect Storm.” Writes Beegle, “Congested ports worldwide are requiring higher horsepower, more maneuverable docking tugs to handle the increasing size of container ships, car carriers and tankers in sometimes tighter quarters than in the past. New and expanding LNG and oil terminals require specialized escort tugs not available on the second-hand market. New and larger OPA’90 double skin tank barges in the U.S. require higher horsepower tugs to handle them. Finding crews to operate an existing busy fleet, much less the additional vessels required, is becoming a critical issue, so new designs need to be able to operate with much lower manning than the past. If you mix all of this into a pot and stir in an ‘over-aged’ fleet and relatively ‘inexpensive’ worldwide financing you can http://www.marinelog.com
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