VESSEL REVIEW | Grey – Versatile tug to support harbour operations in Chile

Chilean marine services provider Remolcadores Ultratug recently expanded its towage fleet with the acquisition of a new tug designed and built by compatriot shipyard Asenav.

The deep-sea-capable Grey is notable for being initially built for stock, with the order contract between Ultratug and Asenav only being finalised when construction on the vessel was already underway. Asenav said it undertook design and construction of the tug despite the lack of a definite agreement with a customer, as the company anticipated a demand for such a vessel as indicated by the growth of the industry. With the delivery completed, Grey is the 31st overall vessel to be built by Asenav for Ultratug as well as the sixth tug in a series to enter service with the same customer.

The tug has a length of 25 metres, a moulded beam of 11 metres, a draught of 3.8 metres, a displacement of 70 tonnes, and a Fifi1 firefighting arrangement that includes two water monitors. Tonly Rubber supplied the cylindrical wrap-around fendering.

Two MAN engines that each produce 2,040 kW at 1,800 rpm drive Kongsberg Maritime azimuthing thrusters via carbon fibre shafts to deliver a bollard pull of 76.3 tonnes and a maximum speed of approximately 12.5 knots. Asenav said the propulsion arrangement provides improved stability and ensures quiet operations.

Grey has already begun providing towage support for Ultratug’s customers at the Port of Arica along northern Chile’s Pacific coast.

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