Brazilian national carrier Alianca Navegacao e Logistica has apparently moved forward with its project to acquire two 700 TEU tugboats for maritime services along the Brazilian coast and in the Amazon River, reports Alphaliner.
According to the report, Alianca had ordered these cabotage vessels in late 2021 for delivery reportedly in late 2024 or early 2025. The ships will have a Brazilian flag and Brazilian crew and represent an investment of approximately USD 60 million.
Canadian ship design firm Robert Allan recently submitted the first drawings of the planned tug-barge combos to be built by Estaleiro Rio Maguari (Rio Maguari Shipyard) in Belem, reports Alphaliner.
While the configuration technically consists of pusher tugs and unpowered barges, the design suggests the two sets will essentially trade in fixed pairs operating, for all intents and purposes, similarly to two 700 TEU container ships, adds Alphaliner.
They will presumably be of the articulated tug barge (ATB) type, meaning that the tug is firmly attached to the stern of the barge, but able to move (mainly pitch) somewhat independently of it.
Each set will be made up of a pusher tug 37.50 m long and 13.00 m wide. The tugs will be powered by twin 3,200 kW Wärtsilä 6L32 main engines, each of which will drive a Schottel azimuth thruster, adds Alphaliner.
Each barge will measure 130.00m by 28.0m, with a capacity of around 700 teu, including dangerous goods and refrigerated containers, distributed above and below deck.
The barges will be equipped with a 500 kW bow thruster and generator sets capable of powering the anti-heel system, bow thruster and reefer containers distributed above and below deck, Alphaliner concludes.
Source: Alphaliner
