Robert Allan Ltd. is pleased to announce that after successful sea trials, H.T.M.S. Ta Chai was delivered to the owner, Royal Thai Navy on August 21st, 2023. The newly completed RAmparts 3200-SD tug was built by Asian Marine Services PCL and designed by Robert Allan Ltd. to serve the navy’s surface ships and submarines.
After proudly taking delivery of two RAmparts 3200 tugs in 2017 and 2019 respectively and being impressed by the superior performance of the tugs, Royal Thai Navy decided to build another Robert Allan-designed tug. The design chosen this time is a slightly wider hull form with improved design features.
The tug was designed and constructed to the following Lloyds Class Notation:
✠ 100A1, TUG, FIRE FIGHTING SHIP 1, ✠ LMC
Propulsion machinery consists of two MTU 16V4000M54 main engines with 1685kW at 1800 rpm rated power driving a pair of Schottel SRP 400FP Z-drive with a Ø2300 mm fixed pitch propeller. The fire fighting pump is driven by a MTU 12V4000M53R dedicated diesel engine, with 1140 bkW at 1600 rpm rated power. Electrical power generation is provided by a pair of MAN D2376 LE322 generator with a rated power of 200 ekW at 50 Hz and able to operate in parallel as required.
H.T.M.S Ta Chai is equipped with deck machinery, including a hawser winch at the bow; a towing hook on the aft deck. This major deck machinery equipment is provided by Fluidmecanica, Spain.
Fenders for ship-handling at the bow consist of two rows of cylindrical fenders and a lower course of W-fender. Sheer fendering consists of “D” rubbers and a W- fender at the stern. A few D-fenders are provided along the hull side underwater to provide protection working with submarines.
The accommodations have been outfitted for a crew of twenty including two cabins with living room of each for the master and chief engineer, mess, and a galley arranged in the deckhouse, and other crew cabins located on the lower accommodation deck. The wheelhouse is designed with a split type control station which provides maximum all-round visibility with exceptional visibility to the bow and side fendering, as well as operation on the aft deck.
Trial results were as follows:
- Bollard pull, ahead: 55 tonnes
- Free running speed, ahead: 13.0 knots
