Ship designer Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) of Canada says that another tug to its ART 90-98 design has been delivered to operator Seabulk in Mobile, Alabama.
The Advanced Rotortug Hermes joins sister ship Nike, delivered in 2021. Both vessels are 98.5ft long and were built by Master Boat Builders of Coden, Alabama. The ART tugs incorporate the patented triple Z-drive Rotortugs concept, featuring omni-directional manoeuvrability, and the benefits of a fully redundant and precise propulsion machinery configuration. The Rotortug concept offers increased redundancy for ship-handling, terminal support and escort towing, as well as enhanced crew safety. Seabulk now has five ARTs in its fleet.
Main propulsion comprises three EPA Tier 4 certified CAT 3512E main engines, each rated at 2375hp at 1800 rpm, each driving a Schottel SRP 430 fixed pitch Z-drive. Two Caterpillar C 7.1 diesel gen-sets each with a power output of 118kWe provide auxiliary power. Hermes is compliant with USCG Subchapter M and constructed to ABS rules with notation ✠A1, Towing Service, Escort Vessel, ✠AMS, UWILD
On trials, the Hermes met performance expectations with bollard pull of 87.4t and rree running speed, ahead of 12.5 knots.
