Innovative hybrid tug treated to twin Cummins QSK60s
“We can confidently say that this project will be a real revolution in the towage operations and a great milestone for our green tug solutions."
- Noyan Altuğ, CEO of UZMAR
The concept of ‘hybrid tug’ is getting a whole new definition with an innovative new tug under construction at Turkey’s Uzmar Shipyard for the Danish Port of Aarhus. From the outside it looks very similar to other Robert Allan-designed tugs built at the UZMAR yard. The Ramparts 3000 ASD tug, to be named Hermes, is 30.25 by 11.75-meters and has a Young Ice I Class Notation.
It's what’s on the inside that matters
In the engine room and thruster rooms of the Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) tug, the innovations are revealed. A pair of Cummins
QSK60 IMO stage II compliant engines each send 2700 hp (2013 kW) to the SCHOTTEL Rudder Propellers type SRP 430 Azimuth thrusters. Most ASD tugs have the thrusters in a separate room, as does the Uzmar tug, but an additional drive shaft links the port and starboard thruster units.
The remarkably simple innovation, designated SYDRIVE-M, allows one engine to be shut down, when the tug is not actually handling a ship, while the other engine provides adequate power to both thruster units. Since harbor tugs spend considerable time running at low load levels between docks, this can result in significant reduction in emissions, fuel costs, and, over time, maintenance costs. With both Cummins engines powering fixed-pitch, nozzled, 2.5-meter props on the SCHOTTEL thrusters, the tug will have a 12.5 knot free-running speed and a 65-ton bollard pull.
In another configuration, the power of the starboard engine can be dedicated to a large fire pump mounted to the front end of the engine. At the same time, the power of the port engine is committed to both the Azimuth thrusters. This gives the operator full maneuvering control of the tug while holding it in the best position for firefighting – making this harbor tug a serious asset for combating waterfront fires.
Mr. Noyan Altuğ, CEO of UZMAR has said of the Hermes, “We can confidently say that this project will be a real revolution in the towage operations and a great milestone for our green tug solutions."
Delivery is anticipated for the summer of 2021.
Cummins Inc.
Cummins, a global power technology leader, is a corporation of complementary business segments that design, manufacture, distribute and service a broad portfolio of power solutions. The company’s products range from internal combustion, electric and hybrid integrated power solutions and components including filtration, aftertreatment, turbochargers, fuel systems, controls systems, air handling systems, automated transmissions, electric power generation systems, microgrid controls, batteries, electrolyzers and fuel cell products.
