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RAVE Class
The RAVE Tug (Robert Allan Ltd. – Voith Escort) is a new concept for a highly manoeuvrable, high-performance escort and ship-handling tug jointly developed by Robert Allan Ltd. and Voith Turbo Marine. The unique characteristic of the RAVE concept is the longitudinal alignment of two Voith drives in contrast to the more conventional transverse configuration.
The RAVE design offers very precise and improved force generation characteristics, which is necessary not only for the demands of indirect escort towing, but also is very important for working in narrow confined harbour and channel areas. The RAVE Tug uses the variable pitch characteristics and the X/Y–logic of two Voith Schneider Propellers for optimum power allocation and precise manoeuvring.
The principal advantages of the RAVE Tug concept are:
- Higher indirect steering forces than developed by a conventional VSP configuration: the use of an active drive unit in combination with a small skeg develops higher lateral forces compared to a simple foil-shaped larger skeg
- Very quick response to directional commands
- Easy and logical control
- Excellent control capabilities and omni-directional thrust characteristics in confined ports, channels and locks
The performance and configuration optimization of the RAVE tug is being actively documented through an extensive series of model-tests and CFD analysis, sponsored jointly by the project partners. This technology can be applied to ANY size of VSP powered tug, depending upon the application and power requirements.
The new RAVE 3700 Class Escort tug (illustrated) has the following particulars:
| Length Overall Beam, Moulded Depth, Moulded Operating Draft Bollard Pull Fs |
- 37.0 metres - 14.5 metres - 5.6 metres - 6.9 metres - 80 tonnes - 150 tonnes @ 10 knots |
