Turkish tug and workboat builder Sanmar has started work on seven more of its emissions-free battery electric powered ElectRA class tugs.
Sanmar has experienced huge interest in these ‘Tugs of the Future’ and, once built and delivered, these latest versions will bring the total number of eco-friendly ElectRA class tugboats in operation around the world to 14. All are based on exclusive-to-Sanmar designs from Canadian naval architect Robert Allan Ltd. ElectRA class tugs come in sizes between 19m and 28m long, with power output 40t -85t bollard pull, and are expected to have a major impact on cutting emissions wherever they operate.
All seven of the new ElectRAs under construction are based on the ElectRA 2500 SX design and measure 25.4m LOA with a 12.86m beam and 5.6m draught. Like all ElectRA tugs their environmentally-friendly credentials have been achieved without loss of performance or power, the Electra 2500 having 70t bollard pull. Four of the tugs are being built for an oil major, one for a repeat owner, and two for stock to help cater for the ever-growing demand that Sanmar is experiencing for these vessels.
ElectRA tugs already operating in Europe and North America are
- Haisea Wamis, Haisea Wee’git, and Haisea Brave – three ElectRA 2800 design tugboats delivered to HaiSea Marine in British Columbia, Canada;
- Saam Volta and Chief Dan George, two ElectRA 2300 SXs operated by SAAM Towage on the west coast of Canada;
- BB Electra, a 2200 SX version delivered to Buksér og Berging in Norway, and
- Dinamo 2023, an ElectRA 2300 SX operating as part of Sanmar’s own fleet.
Ruchan Civgin, Commercial Director Sanmar Shipyards, said: “We are delighted with the success of our ElectRA tugs. As you can imagine, the interest in these radically new tugs has been huge. At Sanmar we are proud to be leading the way to sustainable low and no-emission tug and towing industry.”
The ElectRA series are the result of Sanmar’s ongoing collaboration with Robert Allan Ltd and Corvus Energy to build low and no-emission tugs utilising alternative fuels and innovative technological advances to protect the environment and build a sustainable tug and towing industry. Sanmar’s portfolio also includes LNG-fuelled and hybrid tugboats. It recently held a keel-laying ceremony to mark the latest stage in the construction of the first large purpose-built dual-fuel methanol escort tugs it is building for Netherlands-headquartered international operator KOTUG.
Image: Electra 2500 tug (credit: Robert Allan Ltd)
