Press release - Svitzer has awarded a contract for six Robert Allan Ltd. designed RAstar 2800 Class ASD tugs to the Turkish Shipbuilder Sanmar, operators of two custom-built, modern shipyards located in Tuzla and Altinova, Turkey.

Robert Allan Ltd. said it continues to enhance its RAstar Offshore/Escort Tug design of a unique series of high-performance ASD Tugs. Designed primarily for terminal work, the tugs feature foil-shaped escort skegs and a sponsoned hull form, which together have been proven in both model and full-scale testing to provide significantly enhanced escort towing and seakeeping performance. Roll motions and accelerations are significantly less than those of comparable sized "standard" tug hulls.



Additionally, these multipurpose RAstar 2800 Class vessels are designed for operation in hot climates will be fully prepared for the future fitting of equipment needed for FiFi1 notation with water spray, deliver a 70-metric-ton bollard pull and have accommodation space for eight crew members.



The tugs will be equipped with a double drum render winch, two 2,000 KW MTU 16V4000M63 engines, Schottel SRP 1515 thrusters and a central cooling system.



The delivery of the first vessel in the series is expected to take place in late 2016.