Pioneering tug design breaks Europe

The SDM was designed for Floridabased Seabulk Towing by Elliott Bay Design about ten years ago and Seabulk’s SDM fleet operates in Mobile Bay,Tampa Bay and Port Everglades.

Now the company is looking to sign patent-license agreements to build SDMs worldwide.

The first two European SDMs have been built under license by the Reyser Group at the Zamacona yard in Bilbao and are in operation in Barcelona. Two more are now under construction and due for delivery later this year. Seabulk president Kenny Rogers claimed the SDM design offers a number of operation and cost benefits.

“Most tugs at the same position bleed off a percentage of their bollard pull but these tugs don’t – their design and shape means they maintain 100% of their certified bollard pull in all directions,” he said.

“They are very effective in close-quarter navigation and very responsive alongside the ship. They are built for exact manoeuvring and efficient docking of a ship in confined channels and berths.”