Klyne Tugs of Lowestoft in the UK rec-ently decided to add a further vessel to its North Sea fleet. Having considered all the design options and looked at a range of shipyards all over the world, it settled on a tried and tested Rolls Royce Ulstein basic design, but perhaps more unusual, chose to go with a Chinese shipyard, Yantai Raffles on Zhifu Island in Shandong Province.
The new vessel will be used for anchor-handling and platform supply duties. It is based on an Ulstein UT-719 design, but the Norwegian company has modified the deck area and accommodation to meet Klyne's specific machinery and service requirements. The tug, formerly designated a UT-719-2, will be 67.4 meters long, with a breadth of 15.5 meters, and a maximum draft of 6.2 meters. Each of the two main Wartsila engines will produce 6 MW to drive a pair of Ulstein controllable pitch propellers, rotating within fixed nozzles. Free-running top speed is expected to be 17 knots.
High-lift flap rudders will be capable of independent operation and full integration with two 800 hp bow thrusters and one 900 hp stern thruster. Deck machinery will include an Ulstein triple drum towing/anchor handling winch, with one towing drum and two anchor handling drums; these will have a maximum pull of 300 tons and brake holding power of 450 tons.
The vessel's deck crane is designed to enable ROV operations to be supported. Additionally, a fire fighting system complying with FiFi 1 standards will deliver water or foam to two remotely-operated monitors. Finally, to complete its capabilities, spray booms will be fitted to dispense oil spill dispersant.
The vessel will have the latest ECDIS electronic charting facility. Although capable of operating anywhere in the world, Klyne expects its first duties will be in the North Sea. Construction has just started and delivery is scheduled for November 2001.
More than 275 Ulstein UT-700 series vessels have been built for the offshore industry worldwide. They range from straight platform supply boats to anchor handling tugs, standby and rescue craft, cable laying vessels, seismic research vessels, and smaller drilling and production units. All manner of combinations are possible and some vessels have been modified to support diving work.
Geir Johan Bakke of Ulstein said: "It is the first time we have worked with Yantai Raffles. It is clearly significant for us, since we see China becoming a major player in the offshore shipbuilding market over the next few years."
