SAAM Lucille and SAAM Eriks SAAM Towage Canada
Harbour Tugs and Operation

VESSEL REVIEW | SAAM Lucille & SAAM Eriks – New line handlers enter service at Canada's Port of Vancouver

Baird Maritime

The new line handlers joining SAAM Towage Canada’s fleet have arrived at the Port of Vancouver upon completing their delivery journey from Hong Kong.

SAAM Towage Canada has already chosen the names for both vessels: SAAM Lucille and SAAM Eriks. SAAM Lucille is named after Lucille Johnstone, who worked with SAAM Towage in the 1970s and 1980s as its executive director and president. The second vessel meanwhile honours John Eriks, who worked as a captain and a dispatcher in addition to training numerous vessel crews during his time with SAAM.

Versatile harbour support platforms

The all-steel, multi-purpose vessels will be used primarily for berthing and unberthing ships at the Port of Vancouver by transferring mooring lines from the ships being assisted to crews on the ground. They can also assist with emergencies, rescuing people from the water and scanning for incipient changes in weather, tides and wind for pilots at the terminal where they provide services.

The new vessels were designed by UK naval architecture firm Macduff Ship Design in compliance with Bureau Veritas class rules and built in Zhuhai, China. The design brief was for a small workboat with capacity for simple modification so that it could be tailored to specific owner requirements.

Layouts that enhance operating efficiency

SAAM Eriks

The line handlers each have an LOA of 14 metres (46 feet), a beam of 5.5 metres (18 feet), a maximum draught of only 1.9 metres (6.2 feet), a depth of 2.75 metres (nine feet), a maximum displacement of 74 tonnes, and space for four crewmembers. Fuel, freshwater, and sewage tank capacities are 5,140 litres (1,130 gallons), 500 litres (110 gallons), and 215 litres (47.3 gallons), respectively.

The design used for the vessels is kept simple, allowing for them to complete multiple roles. The conventional layout with a forward wheelhouse and large, open deck is complemented with the fitting of a tow post and a 10-tonne SWL tow hook.

Each vessel is built with twin 1,250mm (49-inch) propellers supplied by Kort propulsion. They are driven by two Caterpillar C9.3 main diesel engines each rated at 310 kW (416 hp) at 2,100 rpm and coupled to two Twin Disc MGX5114 gearboxes. On trials, the vessels achieved an impressive bollard pull of 10 tonnes and a speed of 10.2 knots.

Power for each line handler’s onboard electronics is supplied by a Caterpillar C1.5 generator.

SAAM Lucille and SAAM Eriks
SAAM Lucille & SAAM Eriks
SPECIFICATIONS
Type of vessel:Line handling boats
Classification:BV-1 + HULL • MACH Seagoing Launch, Coastal Area
Port of registry:Vancouver, Canada
Flag:Canada
Owner:SAAM Towage Canada
Designer:Macduff Ship Design, UK
CAD software:Microstation; Maxsurf
Hull construction material:Steel
Superstructure construction material:Steel
Deck construction material:Steel
Length overall:14 metres (46 feet)
Beam:5.5 metres (18 feet)
Draught:1.9 metres (6.2 feet)
Depth:2.75 metres (9.0 feet)
Displacement:74 tonnes
Deadweight tonnage:20
Gross tonnage:41
Net tonnage:14
Main engines:2 x Caterpillar C9.3, each 310 kW (416 hp) at 2,100 rpm
Gearboxes:2 x Twin Disc MGX5114
Propulsion:2 x Kort propellers
Generator:Caterpillar C1.5
Maximum speed:10.2 knots
Bollard pull:10 tonnes
Other deck equipment:Tow hook
Other equipment installed:Tow post
Type of fuel:Diesel
Fuel capacity:5,140 litres (1,130 gallons)
Freshwater capacity:500 litres (110 gallons)
Sewage capacity:215 litres (47.3 gallons)
Crew:4
Operational area:Vancouver, Canada