Svitzer Marlin
IPS drives provide high speed, manoeuvrability, and efficiency
Handed over to leading global towage operator Svitzer in August 2023, Svitzer Marlin is the first example of Dongara Marine’s 17.2 metre BerkeleyXVIIdesign, a smaller variant of the already successful 19.2 metre BerkeleyXIXclass vessels.
Svitzer acquired the vessel to help fulfill a contract to provide terminal towage and pilot transfer services at Woodside Energy Limited (Woodside) LNG export terminals. The company has a 10-year contractual arrangement with Woodside for the provision of towage and pilot transfer services at Woodside’s LNG export operations in the Port of Dampier, commencing from the end of 2023.
Under the contract, Svitzer is supporting support Woodside and its joint venture operations by providing Svitzer Marlin for pilot transfer services and five modern 80-ton bollard pull tugs to service the critical towage needs for the shipping of export LNG cargoes.
In addition to being the first BerkeleyXVIIcontracted, the all-aluminium vessel is differentiated by using the Volvo Penta Inboard Performance System (IPS). The models fitted to Svitzer Marlin comprise a six-cylinder D11 diesel, matched IPS20 steerable pod with twin counter-rotating propellers and Volvo Penta’s electronic vessel control system.
With a total installed power of just over 900kW (1200hp), the integrated package pushed the Svitzer pilot boat to an average fully loaded maximum speed of just under 36 knots on trials.
At 80 per cent power the vessel cruised at 28 knots and used less than 6.5 litres of fuel per nautical mile. Beyond the obvious cost savings, this excellent fuel economy also results in lower emissions.
Fitting Svitzer Marlin with the steerable IPS drives also provides for great manoeuvring capability, including true sideways movement and the ability to essentially rotate within its own length. Acceleration performance was also demonstrated to be excellent on trials, with the boat going from idle to cruising speed in just 15 seconds.
Although smaller in dimensions than the previous Berkeley Class vessels Berkeley, AMG Winyama, and Genesis, Svitzer Marlin still provides capacity to carry six pilots in addition to launch master and deckhand.
It also retains well-proven features such as the specially engineered polyethylene foam and HDPE tube fender system that provides increased deck space and a Goodchild man overboard recovery system.
The Southerly Designs hullform also preserves the Berkeley Class’s trademark fine forward sections and highly flared bow for superior seakeeping, reduced deck wetness, and generous forward pilot embarkation / disembarkation area.
“We were delighted to be able to provide such a well-known global company with an entirely new design for its new operation. Being extremely fuel efficient for its size, fast and highly manoeuvrable we think it’s a vessel that will appeal to many pilotage organisations.”
Rohan Warr - Managing Director - Dongara Marine
