'The World’s First’ Voith propelled tractor tug
‘The World’s First’ Voith propelled tractor tug with LNG dual fuel propulsion was successfully launched by UZMAR Shipyard in Kocaeli, Turkey.
TRAktor V3900-DF is the world’s first Voith-propelled tractor tug with LNG dual-fuel propulsion built by UZMAR Shipyard, for BOTAŞ Petroleum Pipeline Corporation Turkey, the state-owned crude oil and natural gas pipelines and trading company.
Named the Sultanhani, this is the first of two vessels designed by Robert Allan Ltd.’s TRAktor V3900-DF combines remarkable maneuverability with the dependability of Voith propulsion in a greener package where the tug may run on diesel oil or LNG. Using VSPs and dual-fuel engines will enable these tugs to be operated with greater maneuverability and reduce emissions when burning LNG fuel.
When operating on diesel oil alone, emissions will be lower than other vessels as these tractor tugs will have an after-treatment unit installed to remove NOx from the exhaust, meaning they will comply with IMO Tier III regulations.
Particulars of the TRAktor V3900-DF are as follows:
- Length Overall: 39.0 m
- Beam, Moulded: 15.0 m
- Depth, Moulded: 6.0 m
- LNG Capacity: 40 m3
- Diesel Oil Capacity: 164 m3
- Power: 2 x 3000 kW
- Bollard Pull (predicted): 80 tonnes
UZMAR was as ‘The First Privately Established Pilotage and Towage Company’ in Turkey to serve at various private ports and harbors on the Aegean Sea, Turkey.
UZMAR President A. Noyan Altug told us about the roots of UZMAR and how it has developed into one of the industry leaders in tugboat building industry within time.
A. Noyan Altug said; “Today, UZMAR Pilotage & Towage serves for the public safety at four different ports in Turkey; pilotage at Nemrut Port, Izmir, pilotage and towage at Akcansa Port, Canakkale, towage at Ambarli Port Istanbul, and Iskenderun Port, Hatay.
In 1996 we started to build tugboats and workboats for our own fleet requirements and later for the international markets using compact tugboats and offshore vessel designs. We have been working with reputable Canadian naval architecture company Robert Allan Ltd. for our tugboat designs more than 20 years. In 2007, we established our modern shipbuilding facility ‘UZMAR Shipyard’ at Kocaeli Free Zone, near Istanbul, Turkey.”
A. Noyan Altug added; “We highly benefited from our experiences in ship-handling operations in the shipbuilding industry. AS a result of that, we implemented a vision of a unique production system that we call ‘the station-based serial production method’. Our advanced modular building system was a success in the industry; thus, our shipyard was started to be referred to as “The Workboat and Tug Factory”.
Today, UZMAR Shipyard is known as the distinguished craftsman of cutting-edge tugboats, workboats, and tailor-made high-performance vessels with the enhanced experience of shipbuilding for over thirty years. But I want to state that we are not only a shipyard that builds vessels continuously for projects, but we also build bridges of strong connections with our costumers. Their appreciation of excellence and hardwork is very important and valuable to us. As years have passed, our bond with every customer we have ever worked with became stronger, loyal and we think we are all like family members now.”
About the latest investments, A. Noyan Altug said; “Being the pioneer of shipbuilding excellence, we always invest in sustainable and the high-end innovations, such as alternative fuel technologies and autonomous vessels. We have seamlessly incorporated electric battery-powered and methanol-powered tugboats into our portfolio with a highly competitive in-house design so that we conduct our know-how to the future. UZMAR Technologies have launched DIGITUG, a program which consist of different digital projects that enables operators and owners to have fully autonomous fleets.
On the building side, we also provide our clients online access to the building status of their vessels through online monitoring system SEM (ERP). SEM is developed in-house by UZMAR Technologies, to provide tailor-made solutions with maximum efficiency to organizations as shipyards, that have production building phases based on projects”.
UZMAR President said; “Our shipyard has the capacity to construct modern harbor and ship assist, terminal, escort, offshore tugs, supply vessels, shallow draft utility workboats, shallow draft river push boats, line-handling tugs, and harbor-support tugs up to 170 meters in length. Our product portfolio has a wide range of vessels with any power range, whether with direct diesel, diesel-electric, electric battery, methanol fuel powered or hybrid propulsion technology. Up until today, we have successfully delivered more than 200 vessels to 25 countries in 6 continents. In every one of these projects, we had the goal of topping the quality of the previous project in every way. As a result, UZMAR become the first choice of the leading tug owner and operator companies of the world for their significant new-built projects. We are sincerely proud of that.”
The UZMAR built tugboats in the latest years are; the first IMO TIER III certified tugboat of Canada RAmparts 3200W series, the Largest Robert Allan Design ever been built in Turkiye RAmpage 6000 series, the Tug of the 2021 Nominee (Hybrid) RAmparts 3000 series, and the the world’s first Voith-propelled tractor tug with LNG dual-fuel propulsion TRAktor V3900-DF.
