Towage operator Svitzer Autralia recently welcomed a new harbour tug into service at the Port of Newcastle in New South Wales.
Svitzer Barrington was designed by Canadian naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd (RAL). It has an LOA of 32 metres, a beam of 13.7 metres, and an operational draught of approximately 6.1 metres.
The propulsion can deliver a speed of 14.4 knots, a bollard pull of 81 tonnes, and a maximum escort steering force of 124 tonnes at 10 knots.
“This tug class is purpose-built for versatility and power, maintaining high steering and braking forces through a range of movements without losing the dynamism or responsiveness required by marine pilots,” said David Phillips, Chief Operating Officer of Svitzer Australia.
The tug's notable design features include a patented half-circle towing staple able to support advanced towing manoeuvres and a double-ended hull and propulsion layout. Svitzer Australia said the latter maximises the benefits of the staple design.
The operator added that the tug has also been shown to provide a fuel efficiency gain of 15 per cent.
Svitzer Barrington will be joined by her sister tug Svitzer Nobbys in August. The design of the tugs was tailored by RAL to satisfy Svitzer's requirement for vessels promising improved safety and greater efficiency.