YOUR PROPULSION EXPERTS
Today’s tugboats need to be equipped with particularly effective propulsion systems in order to offer reliable towing services. The long-term availability of all propulsion components plays an important and vital role in successful operation of the vessel
Moran Towing Corporation is a leading provider of marine towing and transportation services. The company operates one of the largest fleet of tugs in the United States. One of which, the Marci Moran, required an upgrade to her propulsion system. Moran chose a tailored retrofit concept from SCHOTTEL. After all, Moran and the propulsion experts at SCHOTTEL have been working together since 2005.
The benefits are clear: “By incorporating the existing machinery, the overall costs could be reduced and the modernization realized cost-efficiently for the customer,” explains Jörg Majewski, Sales Director Modernization & Conversion at SCHOTTEL. “Work at the shipyard is also minimized,” adds the modernization expert, “because the azimuth thrusters are installed using a plug and play principle.” The standardization of the upper and the lower gearboxes also ensures high long-term availability of replacement parts. The two components of the SRP 360 are connected by a customized cone support tube (see illustration).
The upper and lower gearboxes of the SRP are connected by a customized cone support tube. It is adapted to the ship’s existing foundations, avoiding the need for major steelwork.
However, the project manager knows that other criteria also play an important role: “Along with cost and risk reduction, quality is always paramount for our customers.” Among other things, it is ensured by the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), which involves testing of the brand new thrusters on all contractual performance parameters in the presence of the responsible classification society. As in Moran’s case, the customers can also attend to convince themselves of the high quality standards of the systems and at the plants.
The modernization of the propulsion system was carried out in close cooperation between Lyon Shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia, and SCHOTTEL USA. It was successfully modernized in just a few weeks. A further order for the conversion of a second tugboat has already been placed.
