First Of Three Hybrid Tugs For Dutch Navy

Damen Shipyards Group has delivered the first of three ASD 2810 Hybrid tugs of the to the Dutch Navy (RNLN). The delivery followed the handover by Damen of two new seagoing Ice Class tugs to the Swedish Navy at the end of 2015.

Rolls-Royce supplied Damen with 10 MTU Series 4000 engines and five MTU Series 2000 engines, in addition to azimuth thrusters for the propulsion system of the workboats.

“The MTU engines provide the tugs with excellent maneuverability and are ideally suited to operations carried out by the Dutch and Swedish Navies in port and coastal areas and at sea,” said Roel van Eijle, sales manager, Damen Shipyards.

The Dutch Navy’s hybrid tugs contain a main mechanical propulsion system equipped with two MTU 16V 4000 M63R engines (right), each delivering 1840 kW that drive 2400 mm propellers. The diesel-electric propulsion system is based on a 640 kW gen-set driven by an MTU 12V 2000 M41B engine that can be used to operate two ALL M3LP450 electric motors rated 230 bkW each, as well as charge twin 120 kWh batteries.

The vessel has a maximum forward speed of 13.4 knots using the main propulsion engines, while speed ahead on the generator is 8.5 knots. Running exclusively on batter power, the speed ahead is 4.0 knots for a maximum of one hour.

Tugs equipped with hybrid propulsion often operate in port and coastal areas solely on battery power. Compared with conventional tugs, hybrids can use up to 30% less fuel and produce 40% fewer exhaust emissions.

Each of the vessels supplied to the Dutch Navy has a maximum bollard pull of 60 tonnes. Among their duties, the tugs will be given the task of towing military vessels, carrying crew members and positioning floating targets during military exercises.

The two tugs for the Swedish Navy are powered by two MTU 8V 4000 M63 diesel engines, each rated 1.0 MW. The ICE Class workboats have a reinforced hull and are designed to be highly resistant to abrasion and mechanical stress. The vessels are designed to maneuver in waters partly covered in ice and will be used to recover torpedoes used in military exercises, tow ships and carry military equipment, drinking water, fuel and up to 12 crew members. They are equipped with firefighting equipment powered by a 12-cylinder, 600 kW MTU Series 2000 engine.