The diesel-operated tugs are intended to support low-manning operations and ship-handling duties for seagoing vessels.

UK-based towage company SMS Towage has taken delivery of two tugboats from Turkey-based Sanmar Shipyards.

SMS Towage has now received two RAmparts 2200 class sister tugs， which were previously part of Sanmar’s fleet.

SMS Towage has renamed the tugs， which were called SIRAPINAR XVIII and SIRAPINAR XV while working in Turkey， as TRUEMAN and KINGSMAN.

Based on the RAmparts 2200 design from Canadian naval architects Robert Allan， the twin sister vessels have an overall length of 22.4m， moulded beam of 10.84m， least moulded depth of 4.4m， and a navigational draft of 4.85m.

Powered by two Caterpillar 3512 C main engines， the twin Z-drive and diesel-operated tugs were developed for low-manning operation and help in boosting performance efficiency of ship-handling duties for seagoing vessels.

Each engine can generate 1，500kW at 1，600rev/min to drive 360°azimuthing Schottel SRP 360 FP thrusters.

The tugs can attain bollard pulls of 52 tons ahead and 49 tons astern， as well as having a free running speed of 11.5 knots.

Each tug has a tank capacity of around 72m³ of fuel oil， 10.8m³ of fresh water， and a 2.4m³ foam tank.

So far， Sanmar delivered 14 tug boats to the UK towage company. SMS Towage received the first tug boat from Sanmar in 2008.

SMS Towage has strategically placed its fleet of tugs across the country， including at Humber， Bristol Channel， Belfast， Portsmouth， Teeside and the River Tyne.

Sanmar Shipyards commercial director Ruchan Civgin said: “Our popular RAmparts 2200 class tugs are compact， highly manoeuvrable workhorse tugs that get the job done time after time.”

“Our relationship with SMS Towage goes back a long way， and it is always pleasing when they come back to us again and again when enhancing their tug fleet.”

Last month， Sanmar partnered with SAAM Towage and Robert Allan to build two electric harbour tugs.