TUG ESCORT
for emergency steering and braking
Reducing the risk of grounding
Causes of ship accidents in approaches
Grounding represents the predominant risk of ship accidents in approaches and narrow fairways. Hence prime focus should be placed on means for reducing the risk of grounding. Comprehensive risk assessments have been made by Det Norske Veritas focusing on grounding. Specific risk reducing measures have been studied. Based on objective navigational facts and statistical data, fault tree analyses indicate the potential risk reduction by various measures, as shown below:
Representative effects of risk reducing measures
100 Relative risk level
0 No risk reducing measures Traffic control (VTS) Pilot Pilot + adequate tug escort
A certified escort tug is proven to be the single most effective tool for reduced risk of grounding.
Port entrance
Such tug will also be designed for excellent performance in push/pull mode.
ASSISTANCE Tugs to perform positioning of vessel at moderate speeds (0-5 knots) by tugs bollard pull ESCORT Tethered escort tug to perform emergency steering of vessel at higher speeds (5-12 knots) by tugs steering pull
Risk reduction
Actual and required tug steering pull
The certified steering pull of Boxer is a good example of the considerable tow line pull generated mainly by the hydrodynamic forces derived from the water flow around the forward fin of BBs escort tugs:
Certified tonnes steering pull (TSP) exerted by 68 TBP Fin First escort tug Boxer Tug speed 6 knots 8 10 12 15
Steering Pull
TSP 90 t 125 148 160 170
Each ship has unique steering characteristics. The below table illustrates the rudder forces generated by two typical oil tankers (reference Tug use in port by Capt. Henk Hansen and study at Sture Crude Oil Terminal, Norway):
Tanker speed 100,000 dwt oil tanker Rudder angle: 15 6 knots 8 10 12 30 t 55 85 120 25 45 t 75 120 175 200,000 dwt oil tanker Rudder angle: 15 50 t 85 130 190 25 60 t 115 185 260
IMO has issued rules for ships manoeuvrability (IMO 751 10/10 zigzag manoeuvre criterion). To provide manoeuvrability corresponding to these rules, the escort tug requires minimum steering pull (TSP) as indicated below:
Required tug TSP to escort LNG carriers at 10 knots
200
200
Required tug TSP to escort oil tankers at 10 knots
TSP requirement (tonnes)
150
TSP requirement (tonnes)
150
100
100
50
50
0 0 25 50 75 100 125 150
3
175
200
225
250
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
Size of Gas Carrier (m x 1000)
Tanker size (tdw x 1000)
Tug design for emergency ship steering and braking
A large ship navigating in confined waters is faced with many hazards, including the risk of collision or grounding which may have severe environmental consequences. A major oil spill may be very expensive to clean up and it may take many years for nature to restore the environmental balance. Adequate tug escort has proven to be a highly effective risk-reducing measure for ships entering and leaving port. For decades Buksr og Berging (BB) has focused on preserving the environment and property through the provision of superior tug design and continuous crew training.
The Fin First escort tug developed by BB is an example of this commitment to marine safety. The foil-shaped fin is mounted under the bow. Two Voith propellers with a damping nozzle plate and struts are positioned abaft midship.
Constant tension winch
Fin Voith propulsion
DNV classification ensures adequate tug escort
The definition of adequate tug escort is the ability to perform emergency steering of the escorted ship by a tethered escort tug able to exert steering force to counteract the rudder force of the escorted ship. Tug steering force together with operational procedures for pilots and tug masters is a well proven risk reducing measure. Det Norske Veritas (DNV) has issued rules for escort tug classification, which include special requirements for: o o o Full-scale measurements of steering pull, manoeuvre time and speed Static and dynamic stability Tension winch TSP (Tonnes Steering Pull)
6 12 knots
All BBs Fin First escort tugs comply with DNV escort class, stating TSP at given escort speeds.
Buksr og Berging AS Ruselkkveien 26 P.O. Box 1534 Vika N-0117 Oslo Norway www.bube.no
