At a lavish ceremony, the 75-tonne bollard pull escort tugs, Borgoy and Bokn, were named on the same day that Norwegian owner Buksér og Berging celebrated its 100th anniversary. The two new azimuth stern drive vessels, powered by Rolls-Royce propulsion systems, will operate for Statoil at its Kårstø Terminal in Norway where gas is received and processed from some 30 offshore fields. The tugs are also equipped to provide emergency response and fire-fighting services.
Rolls-Royce president – merchant, Neil Gilliver, described the occasion as a “significant milestone” heralding a new era in tug boat design and propulsion. Speaking after the event, Gilliver revealed that Rolls-Royce has a string of enquiries for similar vessels from all around the world. The company is likely to announce a deal for two, plus two options, for LNG-powered tugs to be built in China for an Asian customer within the next few weeks, he said.
John Nielsen, managing director of the tug company, indicated that more orders for LNG tugs were certainly in the pipeline although the company would first assess the performance of the two new vessels in operation over a six-month period. Although the vessels cost around 50% more than conventionally powered units of similar specification, their attractive environmental profile and daily operation on cheaper gas fuel give a payback period measured in just a few years.
Harbour tugs are particularly well suited to operation on LNG because they are often deployed on long-term contracts at particular ports or terminals and therefore have ready access to gas bunkers.
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