Page 13: of Marine News Magazine (September 2020)

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“The RAstar 3800-DF delivered to the Port of Ningbo in China is probably the most representative of our status as one of the leading innovators in the tug design world.

That the tug was built in China for a

Chinese operator is a testament to the value that we provide our clients.” – Mike Fitzpatrick which can be very demanding on crews in uncomfort- able sea conditions for hours on end. With more specialist vendors of control and communication systems for work boats having entered the market over the last few years, there are more options than there once was for our clients who may have their own supplier preferences or working relationships for these crucial systems. As naval architects, we can focus on system integration and designing the best possible physical workboat platform, taking full advantage of the space that becomes available from not having crew on board. We are taking the opportunity rethink arrange- ments for equipment and propulsion to improve perfor- mance and reduce size. We believe that the best way to capitalize on the potential advantages of remote operation is to tailor a workboat design as closely as possible to suit the stress in high load areas, making them stronger without the client’s mission and business goals. In other words, the excess weight. We also work closely equipment manufac- design should be mission-driven, not generic. This is sec- turers to integrate the latest in new technologies into our ond nature for us since we have a history of customizing designs, enabling customers to be assured that their vessels our workboat designs to suit our clients, so we are simply are utilizing the latest in technologies and fully meet all carrying this approach forward with our uncrewed designs, their expected performance requirements. but can now do so to an even greater extent.

How do you see the future for remotely operated, au- Robert Allan Ltd. has been involved in several LNG and tomated and autonomous workboats? Please describe hybrid tug and towboat projects globally. From your

Robert Allan Ltd.’s efforts and goals on this front. perspective, why has the uptake of these technologies been slower in North America compared to other re-

We expect to see interest in remotely operated workboats gions? Do you see a shift happening in North America?

increase for hazardous applications like ? re? ghting and for tug applications that involve higher levels of risk to crews It’s worth making the distinction between LNG tugs today. This includes bow tug operations with ships moving and hybrid tugs in answering this question because the at speeds over 5 knots, and tanker hold-back operations drivers are slightly different. When it comes to LNG as 13 www.marinelink.com MN