by Hans | May 24th, 2010
At the end of April the first of three plus two Caspian icebreaker tug vessels was launched at STX Braila shipyard in Romania. The vessel was named MANGYSTAU-1 according to the region where she will be based. The buyer is a group of Kazakhstan companies within Caspian Offshore Construction LLC. This first 50 ton bollard pull icebreker-tug will be handed over to the customer in August.
The ARC 104 concept design developed by Aker Arctic fulfilled all the requirements set by AGIP KCO, the operator of the giant Kashagan-offshore oil field, including the high local content offered by COC. The contract for the construction was signed in spring 2009 and the three first vessels will be delivered by summer 2011. Aker Arctic has conducted the basic design for the building yard, including the class approvals for the Bureau Veritas ice class “Ice Class IA Super, Special service – North Caspian Sea Icebreaker with ice breaking capability up to 0,6 m level ice thickness”.
The main data:
Length over all 66,0 m
Breadth 16,4 m
Depth 4,4 m
Design draught 3,0 m
Min.operating draught 2,5 m
Air draught 13,5 m at the am draught
Bollard pull 50 tons
The great challenge in developing these icebreaking tugs was the less draught than in any of the previous vessels, only 2,5 meter operating draught simultaneously with the high icebreaking capacity. For this reason the vessels will be fitted with three Schottel SPR 2020 type 1.600 kW azimuthing pulling thrusters, totalling 4,8 MW. The propellers are run by four Caterpillar 3512 C type diesel engines à 1.790 kW at 1.800 rpm. Total effect of the power plant is thus 7.160 kW. The vessels are winterised to work in tempreatures down to -35 degrees Celsius and they also feature overpressurised interior, which will safeguard the crew to continue safe operation should there be an accidental H2S blow-out. The superstructure can also accommodate 300 evacuees from the oil production platforms. The base crew of 12 additionally has air bottles in the vessel which would provide safe operation also in a totally enclosed situation.
