Turkish state-owned oil and gas company BOTAŞ Petroleum Pipeline Corporation recently added a new harbour tug to its towage fleet.
Designed by Canadian naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd (RAL), Sultanhani is notable for its dual-fuel propulsion system, which can run on either diesel or LNG. The tug is the first in a series of two to be ordered by BOTAS and is also one of the first dual-fuel tugs in operation in Turkey and one of the few LNG-powered tugs in the world.
Sultanhani has an LOA of 39 metres (130 feet), a moulded beam of 15 metres (49 feet), and a moulded depth of six metres (20 feet). The two 3,000kW (4,000hp) dual-fuel engines drive two Voith Schneider propellers to deliver a bollard pull of 80 tonnes, and towing can be easily performed whether ahead or astern.
Total tank capacities are 40 cubic metres (1,400 cubic feet) and 164 cubic metres (5,790 cubic feet) for LNG and diesel, respectively.
RAL said that, as a first of its kind design, the tug combines the excellent manoeuvrability and reliability of Voith propulsion with dual-fuel capability. Even when the tug is operating on diesel only, its emissions are significantly reduced with the aid of an IMO Tier III aftertreatment installation.
Due to the forward location of the Voith Schneider propellers, the LNG tank hold is located aft of the engine room, providing separation of the gas system and any associated hazardous areas from the accommodation block for improved crew safety.
The wheelhouse meanwhile offers a full 360 degrees of visibility, thus providing the crew with enhanced situational awareness essential for towing, escort, and ship assist operations in busy harbour waters.
Sultanhani and another tug from the same series will be operated under the Regional Directorate of Petroleum Operations of BOTAS in Ceyhan, a transport hub for oil and natural gas originating from the Middle East and Central Asia.
| Sultanhani | |
| SPECIFICATIONS | |
| Type of vessel: | Harbour tug |
| Flag: | Turkey |
| Owner: | BOTAŞ Petroleum Pipeline Corporation, Turkey |
| Designer: | Robert Allan Ltd, Canada |
| Length overall: | 39 metres (130 feet) |
| Beam: | 15 metres (49 feet) |
| Depth: | 6.0 metres (20 feet) |
| Main engines: | 2 x 3,000 kW (4,000 hp) |
| Propulsion: | 2 x Voith Schneider propellers |
| Bollard pull: | 80 tonnes |
| Types of fuel: | Diesel; LNG |
| Fuel capacity: | 40 cubic metres (1,400 cubic feet); 164 cubic metres (5,790 cubic feet) |
| Operational area: | Ceyhan, Turkey |