Gondán Shipyard in Figueras has launched a new hybrid icebreaking escort tug designed by Robert Allan for the Port of Luleå in Sweden. The new tug is a RAL TundRA 3600-H class icebreaking design fully customized for the Port of Luleås operational requirements. The vessel is capable of breaking 1m (3.2ft) of ice at a speed of up to 3kts, and its service duty aids include ice management, escort, ship-assist, coastal towing, fire-fighting and navigation. With a hull structure that exceeds Finnish-Swedish ice class rules, the 36m (118ft) tug will be classed by Lloyds Register. It will be equipped with a hybrid propulsion system that includes two diesel engines, shaft generators/motors and batteries for energy storage. With an expected bollard pull of about 100 tons in diesel-mechanical mode with battery boost capacity, this tug will reportedly be the most powerful icebreaking escort tug of this size in the world featuring electrification. Gondán was selected to build the vessel following an international competition among shipbuilders.
