An article in gCaptain this week: Bollinger Shipyards Christens Lead US Navy Towing and Salvage Ship, USNS Navajo (T-ATS 6) Won’t the bulbous bow get in the way of pushing operations? Or is the bow fendering ment for something else?

[image] Kennebec_Captain: Different design number but has both bulbous bow and bow fendering. Bow fender and Bulbous yes, but is it the same dimension as on the Navajo Class? Maybe modified? That is one of the Sealion’s D-class. Probably “Toisa Dauntless” while she was sitting at Selat Pauh Anchorage in Singapore, waiting for next assignment. PS> I inspected here there for approval to tow a rig from Batam to China. Another picture of Toisa Dauntless, this one at Eastern Anchorage, Singapore: [image] Correction, it is probably “Toisa Defiant” (Blt. 2006): [image] [image] BalticShipping.com

It makes sense in the way that we wouldn’t expect MSC to make smart decisions. Why is there a pile of the ship’s mooring line on the dock next to the Bollard? Is it normal for ships to be christened with half the equipment missing? (off ship fire fighting, anchors, crane…)

[image] Meme.Lord: Why is there a pile of the ship’s mooring line on the dock next to the Bollard? Is it normal for ships to be christened with half the equipment missing? (off ship fire fighting, anchors, crane…) Yes, that is normal. Christening can take place up to a year prior to delivery.

[image] portofdc: Christening can take place up to a year prior to delivery. Or months after the delivery. It is a tradition to have a naming ceremony, but it is not a legal requirement.

Well, around here it usually coincides with the ship launch, if a new-build. And the launch needs to occur in advance off lightning of all the systems. Hence the 12-month lead time.

The Navy has considerable experience operating this type of vessel. Before the Navajo-class there was the Powhatan-class. I recall seeing them from time to time in the Pacific. Seven built between around 1976 and 1980 [image] The Safeguard-class: Four built between 1982 and 1884 [image] The Cherokee-class, 29 built from 1938 to 1945. [image] The Coast Guard operated one Cherokee-class tug, the Tamaroa, I recall seeing her at the USCG base on Governors Island. [image] Here’s another: Abnaki-class. 22 built starting in 1942. [image]

The Powhatan-class was designed mid-1970s, based on OSVs at the time: [image] A port beam view of fleet tug USNS POWHATAN (T-ATF-166) moored at the Naval Amphibious Base at Little Creek, Virginia. Photo: Don S. Montgomery Looks similar to this one: [image] https://www.sjohistorie.no/no/skip/1057214/ But more likely based on this one: [image] The first Norwegian supply ship, Sea Pearl (800 tdw, 3800 bhp), from Mangone Shipbuilding in 1971 to Bugge Supply Ships, Tønsberg. https://www.sjohistorie.no/no/skip/1013871/default PS> Mangone Shipyard was busy building AHTSs for Norwegian owners for a while after that: https://shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/small/mangone.htm

The OP asks if having both bow fendering and a bulbous bow makes sense. I don’t see an issue but I’ve no experience on tugs of this type. My point is that the Navy does have a lot of experience building and operating these vessels. There’s nothing in this tread that would explain what the issue with the design of this class of vessel. Also - The Navy Towing Manual is well regarded amongst experienced commercial mainers in that sector. towman.pdf 14.16 MB

[image] Kennebec_Captain: The OP asks if having both bow fendering and a bulbous bow makes sense. I don’t see an issue Looking at the photo and other profile photos and drawings it has the appearance of the bulb protruding past the fwd edge of the fendering, such that if you were pushing something with the bow fender you’d have already hit them with the bulb. Could be the angle of the photo, but looks like it to me.

From this angle, the bulbous bow does not appear to extend forward of the prow. The “fender” is clearly designed to protect and not to be used for pushing. [download]

Does this bulbous bow make sense? - USNS Navajo (T-ATS 6) - #11 by Kennebec_Captain - Professional Mariner Forum

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