GONDAN’s new contract with Port of Luleå (Sweden) for a new hybrid-powered icebreaking escort tug designed by Robert Allan Ltd has just been signed. The shipyard was selected as the result of a rigourous international competition amongst qualified shipbuilders.
The new tug is a RAL TundRA 3600-H class icebreaking design fully customized for the Port of Luleå operational requirements. The vessel is designed to perform icebreaking – it is capable of breaking 1 metre of ice at a speed of up to 3 knots- ice management, escort, ship-assist, coastal towing, fire-fighting and navigation aids service duties.
This 36-m tug with a hull structure that exceeds Finnish-Swedish ice class rules and has high environmental standards will be classed by Lloyd’s Register.
The vessel will be equipped with an innovative hybrid propulsion system that will include two diesel main engines, shaft generators/motors and batteries for energy storage. This configuration will provide operational flexibility that will produce significant fuel, emissions and maintenance savings.
With an expected bollard pull of about 100 tonnes in diesel-mechanical mode when including battery boost capacity, this tug will be the most powerful icebreaking escort tug of this size in the world with hybrid/electrical propulsion.
