AMNAV building powerful new tugs for California ports

AMNAV building powerful new tugs for California ports    AMNAV Maritime Services says it is building four new tugs for use in California's largest ports that will be among the most powerful in the world.
   The 'Dolphin-Class' tugs will be 78 feet long and will pack 5,080 horsepower, enough to handle a wide range of ships, including new-generation post-Panamax and ultra-large container vessels. The tugs will be powered by twin Caterpillar engines linked to azimuthing stern drives, also known as 'Z-drives,' manufactured by Rolls-Royce.
   Company president Milton Merritt said the new tugs will be built at the Rainier, Ore. Shipyard of Marine Resources Group, which is AMNAV's Seattle-based parent company.
   'In addition to being among the industry's most powerful ship-assist tugs, they will also be among the greenest,' Merritt said. 'The engines will be certified under the low-emission standards of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and EPA,' he noted, adding that AMNAV also has upgraded a number of its existing tugs with IMO-certified engines. 'We are committed to exercising good environmental stewardship as well as exploring new and innovative ways of conservation.'
   AMNAV already provides tugs used in the San Francisco Bay and at the port of Long Beach and Los Angeles.
   The new boats are expected to be in service by early next year.