(SPAY, Germany) — Canadian naval architect Robert Allan Ltd. and German propulsion specialist Schottel are celebrating a significant milestone in their long-standing partnership: the construction of the 500th tug designed by Robert Allan and equipped with Schottel propulsion systems. Tug No. 500 is one of a pair for KOTUG Canada, built to Robert Allan’s RAsalvor 4400-DFM design and equipped with Schottel RudderPropellers (SRP) and SYDRIVE-M.
“The success of Robert Allan Ltd. has been built on developing long term relationships within the marine industry, this extends not only to our owner and shipyard clients but also to the major equipment suppliers that play a huge role in the success of a project,” said Mike Fitzpatrick, president and CEO of Robert Allan Ltd. “Decades of working together with Schottel on 500 different vessels has given us a high degree of confidence in their ability to consistently deliver on their promises.”
“We are incredibly proud to have achieved this great success in our partnership with Robert Allan, that has thrived for many decades,” said Roland Schwandt, deputy CEO of Schottel. “The number of 500 ships is an expression of the trust that Robert Allan not only places in our propulsion systems, but also in us as a company. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Robert Allan team and look forward to continuing this successful collaboration.”
Together, the companies can look back on a series of significant achievements in their ongoing collaboration.
“In over 25 years with Schottel, I have been privileged to work on many special projects together with Robert Allan,” Schwandt said. “These include, for example, the delivery of Schottel RudderPropellers for the first tugs in the Robert Allan Z-Tech series, which was originally developed for PSA Marine of Singapore in 2003. The series’ revolutionary design is still the most award-winning tug design on the market today.”
As another example, Roland Schwandt mentioned Mwokozi II, a salvage and harbor RAstar 4200 tug with outstanding power and maneuverability. Other highlights are a series of diesel-electric river pushboats in the RApide 4600-Z3 design for Hidrovias do Brasil and the HaiSea Marine tug fleet, featuring three electric vessels in the ElectRA 2800 design. Both series are equipped with SRPs in the LE-Drive variant.
“The use of compact L-Drive azimuth drive configurations has become the standard configuration for all Robert Allan Ltd. electric tug designs, as it allows for the most compact overall vessel design possible, while still leaving sufficient space for battery banks and other equipment,” Fitzpatrick said, emphasizing the advantages of the special installation variant. “While there are other options available on the market, the Schottel SRP LE-Drive series remains the most common selection.”
With the 500th tug designed by Robert Allan and equipped with Schottel propulsion systems, the two companies have now reached a very special milestone. Tug No. 500 is one of a pair for KOTUG Canada, which are currently being built at Turkish Sanmar shipyards. Based on the RAsalvor 4400-DFM design from Robert Allan, the world’s first large purpose-built dual-fuel methanol escort tug will service Canada’s Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMEP).
The tug is equipped with two Schottel RudderPropellers type SRP 710 delivering a bollard pull of over 120 tonnes. To further optimize fuel savings and reduce underwater radiated noise, the SRPs ordered feature the mechanical hybrid propulsion system Schottel SYDRIVE-M. This solution allows the two thrusters to be driven together by only one of the main engines.
Since 2000, more than one third of all Robert Allan azimuth tug designs have been fitted with Schottel propulsion systems, including RAscal, RAstar, RAmparts, RAmpage, ART and Z-Tech. The combination of Robert Allan tug designs and Schottel RudderPropellers has proven itself to be a very successful arrangement resulting in optimal maneuverability, high bollard pulls and simplified installation of mechanical parts.
As Robert Allan and Schottel strive for further innovation together, sustainability remains a central effort in their partnership.
“The main focus of future collaboration will likely be the continued drive to decarbonization of the marine workboat sector, in which Schottel as a propulsion equipment manufacturer will play a pivotal role,” Fitzpatrick said.
With their sights set on the next projects, both companies are committed to further optimizing the safety, performance and efficiency of tugs, while continuing to research pioneering projects such as underwater radiated noise reduction and the use of alternative fuels.
“We look forward to further expand this successful partnership in the years ahead and the delivery of the next 500 tugs,” Schwandt said.
– Schottel
