Boluda France Orders New Tugs From Piriou
Boluda France, subsidiary of Boluda Corporacion Maritima – the second largest towage operator worldwide, has just ordered a new series of tugs from Piriou shipyard. Delivery of the first two units is scheduled for 2019.
The vessels will be built by Piriou Vietnam with a standard Piriou design, which meets Boluda France’s specific requirements. The new series of tugs, which will have a 77t bollard pull and measure 30.30m in length, will be put to service in French harbours. It is the third order for a series of tugs that Boluda France entrusts Piriou with, following eight 70t bollard pull tugs built by Piriou between 2007 and 2009, and another six tugs that were delivered between 2015 and 2017.
Vincent Faujour, General Manager at Piriou, declares: “Following the construction of over 15 tugs in Concarneau since 1998, our Vietnamese shipyard has been able to maintain the confidence of a longstanding and major customer for our group. With this new order, we are continuing the strategic partnership we initiated with Boluda France 20 years ago and we are very proud of it.” Denis Monserand, CEO at Boluda France, says: “Once more, we renew our confidence in Piriou shipyard, who design and build high quality tugs that perfectly meet our customers’ requirements. This new series will feature higher bollard pull than previous generations, enabling our crews to service vessels of ever-increasing size in the best conditions.”
The vessels will be built to the Omni Stern Tug (OST) 30′ design, issued from the range of tugs designed by Piriou. The ’OST 30’ is a multipurpose tug developed for ‘push pull’ type towage and harbour assistance operations as well as deep sea operations. With a hull length of 30.30m, it is also equipped to assist vessels in access channels. The OSTs will be outfitted with two aft azimuth propellers (Azimuth Stern Drive), driven by two marine medium-speed turbocharged four-stroke diesel engines, fresh-water cooled with box cooler refrigerants.
At the bridge, the ergonomics of the single-command control station and the high visibility over the entire working area and its surroundings allow the captain to manoeuvre his tug alone. In order to answer the operating conditions required by Boluda France, the tugs are equipped with Fi-Fi 1 equipment for fire fighting, aft sea towing winch and tugger winch for deep sea towage and a double drum fore winch with escort function.
The OST 30 is designed to be maintained every five years with special antifouling and ICAF system. Accommodation is in accordance with ILO 2006 requirements and special attention is paid to noise reduction.