UK Bid To Build ‘Green’ Tugs

An initial order is in the planning stage encompassing two hybrid battery-electric tugs of azimuthing stern drive (ASD) type, each of which will be 25.5m in length, 12m in breadth and of 4.85m draught. Relative to the main dimensions, the design offers a high towing effect of 50t bollard pull capacity, suited to coastwise assignments with heavily laden barges and other tasks.

The consortium will meld innovative design with proven energy storage and propulsion technologies to realise zero-emission vessels that will utilise electric propulsion from stored battery power for regular day-to-day operations, backed up by generators run on biofuel where boost or higher power is required, or when shore charging support is unavailable.

Harland & Wolff will act as project lead and builder, with Macduff of Aberdeenshire undertaking the design, Kongsberg having responsibility for propulsion and vessel control systems, and Echandia supplying the battery and electrical control know-how and hardware.

It is indicated that the opening two-tug programme will also involve construction of two barges, one measuring 90m x 30m and the other 50m x 15m. The barges will play a logistical role for Harland & Wolff, transporting loads, such as sub-assemblies and sections, between its network of yards in the UK, and have wider effect in keeping with the concept of a UK Marine Coastal Highway.

The company has suggested that the craft could provide coastal freight carrying capacity for other clients as and when the barges do not have full H&W consignments or are in ‘light’ condition on positioning voyages. Fabrication of structures for offshore wind developments is seen as offering scope for coastwise loads.

The consortium believes that the tug market will offer up significant demand for ‘green’ designs of various sizes and capabilities in the coming decade, including substantial export opportunities.

Harland & Wolff’s chief executive John Wood said “These will be the first vessels of this type to be designed and constructed in the UK and will go on to provide firm foundations for the build of various vessels requiring this type of technology in the future. We are delighted by the initial feedback we have received from potential clients and look forward to seeing these vessels come to life in our shipyards.”

The technologies deployed are seen as scalable and adaptable to other fields in due course, notably to the crew transfer vessel(CTV) and service operation vessel(SOV) markets, given robust development in the offshore wind energy sector.

In addition to the Belfast complex, where the company has production under way on 23 containerised refuse lighters for service on the River Thames with Cory, the Harland & Wolff group comprises the Appledore shipyard in north Devon, and two fabrication yards in Scotland.

Nearly 20 years on since the last newbuild delivery from Belfast, the barge programme has effectively reactivated the fabrication halls at the Belfast site. The contract is thereby serving as preparation for the return to large-scale shipbuilding in Northern Ireland, signalled by the UK Ministry of Defence’s selection last November of the Team Resolute consortium to design and build three Royal Fleet Auxiliary(RFA) support vessels.

Team Resolute, comprised of Harland & Wolff, ship designer BMT, and the UK arm of Spain’s largest shipbuilder Navantia, is focused on a 2025 start of production on the first vessel. The series of 216m newbuilds, with the power to operate at speeds up to 19 knots, will have a primary role as replenishment vessels, supplying stores, munitions, spares and equipment to warships at sea.

The majority of the blocks and modules for the ships will be constructed by Harland & Wolff in Belfast and Appledore, with components also being sourced from the Methil and Arnish fabrication sites in Scotland. There will also be significant input from Spain, whereby Navantia’s Puerto Real yard at Cadiz will undertake some of the building work, as well as providing technology transfer and skills know-how to Belfast. Final assembly for all three vessels will take place at Belfast.