VESSEL REVIEW | National Energy Resilience – Tug to support offshore exploration in southern Caribbean

Netherlands-based the Damen Shipyards Group recently delivered a new ASD tug to the National Energy Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (NEC), a subsidiary of state-owned National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago. Named National Energy Resilience, the new tug was acquired by NEC in response to the increase in oil and gas exploration and production in the waters of the southern Caribbean, with offshore support duties including rig relocation in addition to basic functions such as towing and mooring.

The newbuild has a length of 28 metres, a beam of 11 metres, a draught of 4.65 metres, a displacement of approximately 550 tonnes, and a gross tonnage of 299. Two Caterpillar 3512C main engines that each produce 1,903 kW at 1,800 rpm drive Kongsberg Maritime 2,500mm azimuthing propellers to deliver a bollard pull of 60 tonnes and a speed of 13 knots, while a Damen class-certified NOx reduction system ensures IMO Tier III compliance. NEC opted to have the NOx reduction system installed in the tug well ahead of emission requirements coming into force in the Caribbean.

The foredeck has a completely flush design, optimised for various towing modes, giving the tug optimal performance. The ergonomic layout ensures easy accessibility to winches, bollards, and fairleads. Towing winches are available forward and aft while the fendering includes D type, W type, and cylindrical fendering.

National Energy Resilience has also been fitted with Damen’s proprietary remote monitoring system. This system gathers data from the vessel’s various operating parameters and analyses the data to owners and operators via a web-based platform. For NEC, this will include insights into fuel consumption and CO2, NOx, and CO2e emissions. Combining this data with its operational profile will allow NEC to make operating adjustments as necessary to potentially reduce the tug’s fuel consumption by as much as 20 per cent.

The electronics suite includes a radar, an echosounder, and an AIS from Furuno, an autopilot and a GPS from Simrad, compasses from Cassens and Plath and Anschutz, two Norselight searchlights, and VHF radios from Jotron and Sailor. Power for these and other onboard systems is supplied by two Caterpillar C4.4 123kVA generators. The other key equipment includes Azcue pumps, CC Jensen fuel oil purifiers, and a Technicomar watermaker with a rated daily output of 6.72 cubic metres.

A maximum of 10 crewmembers can be housed with accommodations consisting of single cabins for the captain and the chief engineer, two double cabins, and one four-person cabin. Other onboard facilities include a galley, a mess/dayroom, a dry stores area, and sanitary spaces.

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