Friedrichshafen-based Rolls-Royce Power Systems (MTU) (www.rrpowersystems.com) and Sanmar Shipyards in Turkey have signed a contract for the delivery of eight MTU Series 4000 engines for four new tug boats — plus an option for another four engines.

The tugs will each be fitted with two 16V 4000 M73L engines, each delivering an output of 2,700kW (at 1,850rev/min).

Ali Gürün, projects director of Sanmar Shipyards, said: “We were impressed by MTU’s technical support, as well as the service and the reliability of its engines, which is why we will also be equipping our new Robert Allen/Rastar 2900sx tugs with MTU engines.”

Knut Müller, head of the marine and government business division at MTU, said: “This is the first time high-speed engines are being used to power harbour tugs in this power class. To date, it has only been possible to
use medium-speed engines for harbour tugs with a ‘bollard pull’ of over 85 tonnes.”

The Robert Allen/Rastar 2900 SX terminal tugs (which are just over 30m long) will be added to the fleet operated by the Danish towage company Svitzer in 2018.

MTU and Sanmar have signed an additional contract for four 16V 4000 M63 engines (each rated at 2,000kW) for two tugs with a 70-tonne bollard pull.

That brings the number of tugs built by Sanmar and fitted with MTU engines to 16. Rolls-Royce Power Systems in Friedrichshafen employs around 10,000 people.