ALP Defender

The oceangoing anchor handling salvage tugs of the SX157 design have been developed in close collaboration with ALP. The vessels are outfitted with DPII and anchor handling capacity in order to assist during the installation/hook-up phase for the towed objects.

Ulstein provided the design and has also been responsible for the deliveries of the main components.

The ALP Future Class family of vessels have a fuel capacity of 3400 m3 of IFO/MGO - sufficient for non-stop Trans-Atlantic/Indian, Pacific Ocean towing operations without fuel calls. These long-distance towing vessels have a bollard pull of 300+ tonnes, a service speed of 13 knots and a top speed of over 19 knots. Additionally, the vessels are equipped with dynamic positioning capability (DP II) allowing ultra-long distance towing, offshore installation and decommissioning of large floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) units, floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) units and floating drill rigs at the highest safety levels.

The ALP Future vessels measure approximately 88.9 metres long, weigh 4250 deadweight tonnes and reach maximum speeds of over 19 knots.

The ALP Defender was launched on 23 January 2016 and named by Caroline Steenbergen of ALP Maritime Services on 27 September 2016. 
 

Extract from a press statement by ALP Maritime: 
"On 20 June 2017, ALP Defender was officially delivered to owners ALP Maritime Services B.V. in Tamano Japan. Days later ALP Defender departed from Tamano to Pohang, South Korea to be fully outfitted and spool her towing wires on board.

The vessel had been chartered to Teekay to tow assist the Randgrid FSO on her mobilization voyage from Singapore to the Gina Krog oil-field, 30 kms northwest of the Sleipner field in the North Sea. On 6 July 2017 the convoy departed Singapore, ready for a voyage of more than 12500 nautical miles to Stavanger, Norway, around the Cape of Good Hope. Bollard Pull and speed calculations made for the project showed that the voyage would take 58 days, on full power. Port Louis was reached within 14 days after departure, where a stop was required to change crew on board the FSO, before setting sail for the 3100 nautical miles leg to Walvis Bay, Namibia, to take bunkers. All towage projects are operations in which the weather needs to be monitored closely. The cape was rounded safely and a stop in Walvis Bay was made to refuel ALP Defender with sufficient fuel to make the rest of the voyage without any further bunker stop.

On 30 August the convoy safely arrived in Stavanger, 3 days ahead of schedule. With an average towing speed of over 10 knots a very successful maiden voyage for ALP Defender and the project team.

And with such a result ALP defender has shown to be a great addition to the ALP Fleet!"

Vessel overview
 

• ALP STRIKER - delivered September 2016 - IMO Number: 9737230
• ALP DEFENDER - delivered June 2017 - IMO Number: 9737242
• ALP SWEEPER - delivered October 2017 - IMO Number: 9737254
• ALP KEEPER - delivered February 2018 - IMO Number: 9737266