Gulf Island Fabrication Delivers Tugs To Bay Houston
Gulf Island Fabrication recently delivered the terminal and escort tugs Mark E. Kuebler, Ted C. Litton and Connelly M to Bay Houston Towing Company; they are the first three tugs of a 10-vessel contract.
Each of the Robert Allan-designed tugs is equipped with two Schottel SRP 510 FP Rudderpropellers. In addition, Vulkan’s Safeguard Basic driveline protection system issues early warning when intervention in the propulsion drive train is required.
The main propulsion of the Z-Tech 30-80 tugs consists of a pair of diesel-driven Caterpillar 3516E engines, each driving a Schottel SRP 510 Rudderpropeller with a fixed-pitch propeller of 110-inch diameter. This combination achieves a free sailing speed of 13 knots and a bollard pull of 81.5 tons. The Z-tech 30-80 is designed to significantly increase escort performance by generating more than 100 mt. of steering force at 10 knots.
Each tug is fitted with a Fire Fighting 1 system including two FFS 6,200 gpm pumps.
Safeguard Basic
Safeguard Basic, developed by Vulkan Couplings, detects torque loading as a function of the twist angle via torque-transmitting components (such as composite shafts). Dynamic data is thus analyzed and evaluated using preset warning and alarm levels. Thanks to an interface with the Schottel control system, optical warnings and alarm signals also indicate when intervention by the captain is required.
The system is based on a PC embedded in the main control box and a digital signal processor in the connection box. Both of these are connected via an Ethernet cable and include two proximity sensors.
When used as a monitoring system, Safeguard Basic has specifications for the entire service speed range (including start and stop). Besides this, there is alarm triggering for all monitoring thresholds and automatic protocolling of alarms and actual values. Safeguard Basic is available as a monitoring device while Safeguard Active is integrated into the system of Schottel safety equipment in order to protect the propulsion drive train from overloads and enable planned maintenance. The system has ABS type approval for monitoring as well as ABS approval as safety equipment.
Caption for photo: Each of the tugs is equipped with two Schottel Rudderpropellers type SRP 510 FP and a Vulkan’s Safeguard Basic driveline protection system.
