MTU Engines From Rolls-Royce Power New Foss Tugs
When Foss Maritime of Seattle began an aggressive schedule to complement its fleet with a new generation of 90-short-ton bollard tugs built to meet increasing environmental regulations in the marine industry, it turned to Rolls-Royce and its MTU engines.
Working with its distributor partner Pacific Power Group of Vancouver, Wash., the team at Rolls-Royce helped to outfit four new Foss tugs with two MTU 16V 4000 M65L engines capable of delivering 3,435 hp. at 1,800 rpm. and each outfitted with a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) aftertreatment system to meet EPA Tier 4 emissions standards.
The engines are capable of both high performance and meeting strict emission standards, giving each vessel the power to handle ship assists, escorts, towing and fighting fires. Along with lower emissions, the new tugs will require less maintenance-related down time and will provide greater operating efficiency to help expand the Foss fleet’s nearshore and offshore capabilities.
“It is always rewarding to collaborate with operators like Foss and partners like Pacific Power Group who share our drive for delivering the best quality,” said Jeff Sherman, senior sales manager-commercial marine for MTU America. “We look to provide our marine customers with the technologies they need to meet requirements without losing any performance, and these tugs are a prime example of that dedication in motion.”
“Tug companies have come to rely on solutions from MTU due to their fast load acceptance and high torque levels that make towing vessels agile and safe while providing durability proven in years of use in high load applications,” said Doug Schwedland, vice president-marine, Pacific Power Group. “Our team is proud we were able to outfit the expansion of the Foss fleet with these engines.”
Designed by Jensen Maritime Consultants of Seattle and built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders of Freeland, Wash., one of the multifunctional 100- by 40-foot tugs has already been completed and is in service in California. The additional three are soon to follow and will be deployed to Foss Maritime’s West Coast fleet.
