New Harbour Tug Design Demonstrates Big Efficiency & Performance Gains

Svitzer’s new TRAnsverse tug design has demonstrated significant performance and efficiency gains over older tug designs according to a new white paper released by the towage and marine services provider. 

The white paper is focused on the functionalities of the new design following sea trials of the first TRAnsverse tug, Svitzer Taurus. The tug entered service at the Port of Amsterdam in October last year and since then has achieved average fuel efficiency gains of 15%. 

The TRAnsverse design doesn’t just achieve significant fuel efficiency gains, though. According to the white paper, ‘At speeds above 2–3 knots in dynamic modes, the TRAnsverse tug expands the operating envelope by around 50% compared to similar or larger size standard ASD tug designs… As a result, the TRAnsverse tug can perform a wider variety of jobs, do them faster and more fuel efficiently, and generally deliver a higher level of performance’. 

Svitzer has highlighted that the TRAnsverse platform also has several design features that differentiate it from other tug designs and allow it to manoeuvre and operate in ways that no other tug can. These unique design features include: 

• Direct and indirect force - the TRAnsverse design can generate approximately 50% higher forces than an ASD of comparable size.
   
• Push and sidestep - the TRAnsverse design allows the tug to side-push effectively in the full speed range up to 10 knots. This allows the tug to instantly respond to pilot commands.
   
• Hydrodynamic force - better use of hydrodynamic force during pulling means free force during braking. In addition, the TRAnsverse design can generate usable hydrodynamic force from lower speeds than predominant tug designs.
   
• Transition capability - the TRAnsverse design has better transition capability e.g. during direct pulling, changing from a 6 to a 3 o’clock position etc. 

Commenting on the results of the sea trials and the findings of the white paper, Kasper Karlsen, the Chief Operating Officer at Svitzer, said: 

“We believe the TRAnsverse tug has the potential to become a game changer in harbour and terminal towage. It can address common port pain points, including severe challenges with port congestion, larger vessels, and more extreme weather conditions. 

We now have solid documentation that the TRAnsverse tug can solve most of the daily jobs faster and better than standard tug designs, meaning it will help prevent delays in the ports, which can be costly and have ripple effects throughout the supply chains”.

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