Frederikshavn, 13 May 2005. New engine orders for a specialised tugboat segment. Over the last two years, MAN B&W Diesel A/S, Denmark has been successful with a total of nineteen engine and propulsion package contracts to Brazilian tugboat owners.

Ten medium-speed engines, five of type 6L23/30A-F and five of type 8L23/30A-F, were recently selected for a series of single-screw pusher tugs under construction in Brazil, at the yard of Estaleiro Sao Joao. The vessels were ordered by the owner J.F. de Oliveira Navegacao Ltd, Brazil.

This new MAN B&W Diesel powered series follows another series of six pusher tugs. These vessels are powered by three single-screw, and three twin-screw propulsion packages, type MAN B&W 8L23/30-FKV, ordered by the Brazilian owner Transportes Bertolini Ltda, Manaus.

Both series of tugs will be deployed in the specialised Amazon inland waterways transport system - based on barges. Soya beans, bauxite and trailers from the inland of Brazil and Bolivia are loaded on barges and pushed via the Amazon river system to Santarém and Belém on the Atlantic coast. In Santarém, the barge cargoes of soya beans and bauxite are transferred to overseas trading, ocean-going cargo vessels for the export markets.

The engines for the Oliveira tugs will be operating on Heavy Fuel Oil (IF180) and will be driving FP propellers via reverse/reduction gearboxes.

For the Bertolini tugs, also operating on HFO IF180, complete MAN B&W Alpha Propulsion Systems with CP Propellers and Alphatronic Control Systems were chosen.

MAN B&W Diesel Sales Manager of four-stroke propulsion systems, Mr Ewald Westergaard states: “Robust HFO-burning medium-speed engines are favoured for this special tugboat segment. Good business relations and prior experience with the performance of our products and our after sales service has paved the road for MAN B&W Diesel’s success on the Amazon.”