Sanmar’s Tuzla Shipyard recently held a ceremony to mark the delivery of four of its fully electric ElectRA tugboats to Türkiye’s state-owned crude oil and natural gas pipelines and trading company, Botaş.
The four eco-friendly, emissions-free harbour tugs are based on the exclusive-to-Sanmar ElectRA 2500SX design from Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd (RAL). They will operate at the Botaş Marmara Ereğlisi LNG Terminal and the Botaş Saros FSRU Terminal, both of which are of strategic importance to ensuring Türkiye’s energy security.
According to Botaş, the contract marked a significant milestone in achieving the targets set out in its national energy action plan, aimed at enabling the transition to environmentally friendly technologies. The successful completion of the order carries additional significance for Sanmar as it celebrates its 50th anniversary year, with the company believing itself to be positioned at the forefront of the tug and towing industry’s transition toward a sustainable low- and zero-emissions future.
The four ElectRA tugs delivered to Botaş, known by their hull numbers during construction at Sanmar’s Tuzla Shipyard, have been named Botaş Hilal, Botaş Bayrak, Botaş Ay and Botaş Yildiz. Each measures 25.4m LOA, with a 12.86m beam and 5.55m draught, and delivers 70t of bollard pull ahead, with a maximum free-running speed of approximately 13 knots. Accommodation is provided for a crew of up to eight.
Equipped with battery banks producing 5,085 kWh, the tugs include backup diesel gensets to ensure fire-fighting capability and extended operational endurance. The tank capacities include 54m³ of fuel oil and 18m³ of fresh water.
Cem Seven, Chairman, Sanmar Shipyards, said: “The fact that this strategic partnership coincides with Sanmar’s 50th anniversary adds special significance to this project. Combining our half-century of experience with our innovative and entrepreneurial spirit, we continue our work in line with our goal of shaping the future of global maritime shipping. We will continue to produce engineering solutions that inspire confidence with our people-centred, environmentally friendly, and innovative approach.”
Image: Sanmar-built ElectrRA 2500SX electric tugs (source: Sanmar Shipyards)
