KEY POINTS
- Four new diesel-electric terminal-support tugs are being built in Turkey for deployment to Guyana’s Stabroek Block.
- Everllence will supply 16 high-speed 175D gensets, with the first shipset scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026.
- The vessels will support ExxonMobil’s FPSO operations, including towing, logistics, dynamic positioning, maintenance and emergency response.
A new fleet of diesel-electric offshore support tugs is being developed to strengthen marine support for ExxonMobil’s expanding oil production and export operations in Guyana’s prolific Stabroek Block.
Boskalis subsidiary Smit Lamnalco and Turkey’s Uzmar Shipyard have selected European engine manufacturer Everllence to supply 16 high-speed 175D series generator sets for four new terminal-support vessels.
The tugs are being constructed in Turkey to Robert Allen Ltd’s RAmpage 6000-DE design. Once completed, they will be mobilised to Guyana, where they are expected to support tanker loading activities at floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels operating in the Stabroek Block.
The development comes as Guyana’s offshore oil industry continues to expand rapidly, increasing demand for specialised vessels capable of supporting production, export and marine logistics.
Under the agreement, Everllence will provide four generator sets for each tug. Each vessel will be equipped with two 12-cylinder 175D-MEL gensets, each producing 2,280 kW, alongside two 16-cylinder 175D-MEM units rated at 2,560 kW.
The combination will provide the vessels with the power required to perform a broad range of offshore duties while allowing operators to adjust propulsion and power consumption according to operating conditions.
Everllence said the first shipset is scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026, with the remaining equipment expected to follow throughout 2027.
The Augsburg, Germany-based manufacturer developed the 175D range in 12-, 16- and 20-cylinder configurations, with power outputs ranging from 1,500 kW to 4,400 kW.
Vessels will perform multiple offshore roles
The new tugs will be designed to perform more than conventional towing duties. Their responsibilities will include tanker towing, safety operations, logistics support, dynamic positioning, maintenance activities and emergency response around the FPSO facilities.
This multi-purpose capability is particularly important in deepwater oil-producing areas such as the Stabroek Block, where offshore installations depend on specialised support vessels to maintain continuous production and export operations.
The vessels are expected to assist with tanker loading and other activities associated with moving crude oil from offshore production facilities to export vessels.
Smit Lamnalco said reliability, fuel efficiency and lubricant consumption were among the key factors behind its decision to select Everllence’s gensets.
The company also highlighted longer overhaul intervals and technical support as important considerations.
Smit Lamnalco tender manager Jamie Stewart said the combination of these features was expected to increase vessel availability while reducing operating expenditure over the vessels’ lifetimes.
The use of both 12- and 16-cylinder engines will also give the diesel-electric tugs greater flexibility across different operating modes.
According to the company, using engines from the same product family should also simplify maintenance and spare-parts management, potentially reducing inventory costs.
Everllence said its 175D engines comply with the latest exhaust-gas emissions requirements, including IMO Tier III standards.
The engines are also approved for operation on biofuels such as fatty acid methyl esters and hydrogenated vegetable oils, providing operators with additional fuel options as the maritime sector faces increasing pressure to reduce emissions.
For offshore support vessels that can spend long periods operating around production facilities, fuel efficiency and emissions performance are becoming increasingly important considerations.
