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RApide Class
For many decades Robert Allan Ltd. has been designing tugs and barges and other workboats for the shallow rivers and coastal waters of Canada's northland. The expertise gained in designing robust, reliable and yet lightweight vessels for this very challenging environment has led to many opportunities to offer that experience to projects in other parts of the globe where similar (if generally warmer!) conditions exist. The result is a significant portfolio of very specialized vessels for extremely shallow draft service, now designated as the RApide Class.
Recent projects in South America has led to further research and refinement of the propulsion and steering systems on these tugs, as well as software which enables us to predict with greater accuracy how this type of tug will perform on often circuitous routes. These tugs can be propelled by dual (D), triple (T) or quadruple (Q) conventional screws (S), Z-drive (Z), or jets (J). The RApide Class tugs are designated by length and beam and number of screws x type; e.g. RApide 4515-QZ.
The following are examples of RApide Class Shallow-Draft River Tug designs:
Edgar Kotokak
Keewatin
Margaret Yorke
Mary Lu Spencer
Matt Berry, Johnny Hope, Henry Christoffersen, Jock McNiven
Phyllis Yorke