UZMAR Shipyard, a leading Turkish shipbuilder, is proud to announce the successful delivery of NB-166 ‘TIGER’, a state-of-the-art RAstar 3200W Class 80 TBP Escort Tug. Designed by Robert Allan Ltd., the vessel has been tailored to meet the specific operational demands of OCEAN TEAM, a leading maritime services provider. Renowned for its exceptional manoeuvrability and escort performance, the RAstar 3200W series represents the latest advancements in tugboat technology.
A formal delivery and naming ceremony took place at UZMAR Shipyard on February 10, 2025, attended by distinguished industry leaders, including UZMAR CEO Mr. A. Noyan Altuğ, OCEAN TEAM Managing Director Mrs. Michela Cattaruzza, Robert Allan Ltd. CEO Mr. Mike Fitzpatrick, and esteemed guests.
During the ceremony, the vessel was christened by Anton Bulai, Pastor of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Istanbul. As the godmother of the tug, Mrs. Michela Cattaruzza had the honor of ceremonially breaking the bottle, officially bestowing the name ‘TIGER’ upon the vessel.
This milestone delivery underscores UZMAR’s commitment to innovation, quality, and excellence in shipbuilding, while further strengthening its long-standing partnership with OCEAN S.R.L.
During the ceremony, UZMAR President & CEO Ahmet Noyan Altuğ addressed the guests, emphasizing the collective effort behind the successful delivery of NB-166 ‘TIGER’: “First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to each and every one of you. Every contract we sign is based on the trust we have in our team, our suppliers, and our subcontractors. Today, we are not just celebrating the success of the UZMAR family or the Altuğ family—we are celebrating the shared achievement of every individual who has contributed to this outstanding project.
At UZMAR, we are continuously approached with new projects, and the first question we are asked is: ‘Can you do it?’ If the project is challenging, our response is always clear: ‘We will get it done.’ If it seems impossible, we say, ‘It may take a little longer.’ Regardless of its complexity, every project holds great significance for us, and in the end, we always take immense pride in the tugs we build. Today is one of those significant and special days.
Alongside our esteemed clients, we are also honored to have Father Anton with us, who will conduct the christening ceremony, blessing our vessel for a safe and prosperous service life. Though we may come from different cultures, countries, and languages, we are united by one powerful force—the sea. The sea brings us, seafarers, together and makes us all part of a single, shared understanding.
On behalf of all of us, I wish the magnificent tug TIGER a safe, successful, and prosperous journey ahead. May it bring good fortune to the Cataruzza family and the entire Ocean Team.”
During his speech at the ceremony, Robert Allan Ltd. President & CEO Mike Fitzpatrick expressed his admiration for the collaboration and craftsmanship behind the RAstar 3200W tug’: “It is an honour to be here today. In my view, three essential elements are required to build a good tugboat: a solid design, high-quality equipment, and a capable shipyard. However, to create an exceptional tugboat, there is a crucial fourth element—an owner who is deeply involved in the process, bringing experience and value to the vessel’s construction. Today, what we see here is undeniably an exceptional tugboat. I am confident that this vessel will be a significant asset to Ocean Team and will deliver many years of safe and efficient service. My congratulations go to the entire UZMAR team, who have once again done a remarkable job. This tugboat is a testament to the outstanding quality and dedication that you demonstrate every day.”
Michela Cattaruzza, Managing Director of OCEAN S.R.L., expressed her deep emotions and gratitude as she addressed the guests: “It is a truly emotional and honourable moment for me to be here today. I have been working in this industry for 28 years, yet this is the first time I am speaking at the christening ceremony of a tug. Normally, it is my father or my brother who takes the stage for such occasions. My brother deeply regrets that he could not be here today, but he sends his heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the design and construction of our tug.
Standing in front of our beautiful TIGER, I am overwhelmed with countless emotions. If my father were here, I know he would be immensely proud and happy—not only because we have built an exceptional vessel but because we have also found more than just a shipyard; we have found friends and family.
I want to extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who has been part of this journey. This has been a truly remarkable experience, and I sincerely hope it will be the first of many more to come.”
The TIGER was successfully launched just eight months after the contract was signed, showcasing UZMAR’s commitment to timely delivery and excellence in shipbuilding.
Engineered to the highest industry standards, TIGER is equipped with cutting-edge systems for ship rescue, vessel escorting, firefighting, port operations, towing, pushing, and standby services. Designed with an azimuth stern drive (ASD) propulsion system and advanced firefighting capabilities, the RAstar 3200W series tug features an 80-tonne bollard pull, an overall length (L.O.A.) of 32 metres, a beam of 13.2 metres, and a depth of 5.5 metres.
With a fuel capacity of 199m³ and a freshwater capacity of 40m³, the vessel carries Escort Tug, Recovered Oil Second Line (FP>60°C), and Firefighting 1 notations. It is powered by two Caterpillar 3516E main engines, rated at 2,350 bkW at 1,800 rpm, featuring IMO III-certified after-treatment systems. The propulsion system consists of two Kongsberg US255 Z-drives with 2.8m FP propellers.
Further enhancing its operational capabilities, TIGER is outfitted with an IBERCISA Split Drum Escort Forward winch, an Aft Towing winch, and a Data Hidrolik Towpin to support vessel escorting and towing operations.
