Anglian Sovereign is Christened at Lowestoft

The 16,400hp Anglian Sovereign is the second of a pair of virtually identical sister-ships to be constructed as part of an ongoing fleet replacement programme.

Anglian Sovereign is one of the tugs employed to fulfil a vital role in the prestigious contract with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to provide ‘Emergency Towing Vessels’ (ETVs). Under a contract, awarded in February 2001, Klyne Tugs operate four powerful tugs to help protect the British coastline against marine accidents and any resulting pollution.

Anglian Sovereign joins her sister-ship Anglian Princess and the now familiar Anglian Monarch and Anglian Prince in this important work.

Anglian Sovereign was named by Mrs Waveney Ley, Director of Klyne Tugs, and daughter of Mrs Bridget and Mr Roger Klyne, proprietors of the Lowestoft based company. During the christening ceremony Mr Roger Klyne, Chairman of Klyne Tugs, thanked everybody concerned for their input into the new vessel, saying: ‘The vessel we are christening is the result of the combined efforts of a great many people and I would like to thank everyone involved for their support and look forward to continuing our association in the future. In particular, I must mention our Managing Director Carl Beare who has played a pivotal role in the building and commissioning of this and our other new vessels. I would also like to express my appreciation for all the work undertaken by our tug crews and in particular Captain George Cantak and his crew who brought Anglian Sovereign home on the long delivery voyage from China through some appalling weather conditions’.

The new tug arrived in Lowestoft just a few days earlier. On announcing the arrival Klyne Tugs Managing Director Mr Carl Beare said, ‘We are delighted to take delivery of Anglian Sovereign . Her sister-ship Anglian Princess has been in service for over a year and proved to be an excellent vessel for use as an Emergency Towing Vessel, capable of operating in virtually any weather conditions encountered around the coasts of Britain.

‘As a company Klyne Tugs is committed to ensuring that the Lowestoft locality benefits from this development of the current fleet. Although our vessels are deployed around the UK coast they are supported by engineering and a host of other services provided by local companies.

We intend to continue with our support to these suppliers.’

Anglian Sovereign is a vessel of 2258 gross tons with a bollard pull of over 180 tonnes and a free running speed of 17 knots.

She is fully equipped for towing, anchor-handling, fire fighting and ideally suited for her role as an ETV. The hull follows the well-established Rolls Royce UT 700 series configuration and has a length overall of 67.4m, a breadth of 15.5m, with a maximum draft of 6.2m. In common with other vessels of this type, designed to operate in some of the most inhospitable parts of the world, sea-keeping qualities are enhanced with a high forecastle and ample freeboard. A full account of the technical aspects of these vessels was published in the November 2002 issue of Maritime Journal .Among the features making this type of vessel particularly suitable in the Emergency Towing and Rescue role, are the spacious accommodation and large clear afterdeck. The accommodation can be air-conditioned and all fourteen single and three double cabins have en-suite facilities.

A well equipped ships office, a reception and conference room, and crew lounge are also provided, along with a hospital and a normal galley and laundry, all of which could be fully utilised in an emergency situation. The clear working deck aft has an area of 344m 2and provides an excellent winching platform for helicopters transferring personnel and/or equipment.

Two Wartsila 16V 32LND diesels rated at 16,500 bhp/ 12,000kW (total) running at 750rev/min MCR supply power for the vessel’s main propulsion system. The main engines run at constant speed and transmit power through Rolls Royce Ulstein gearboxes to controllable pitch propellers, rotating within fixed nozzles. Twin ‘high lift’ flap rudders can be controlled independently or in unison.

Two transverse bow thrusters and one stern thruster are used to enhance manoeuvrability and station keeping.

Good handling characteristics are essential in a vessel required to manoeuvre in close proximity to casualties under extreme weather conditions.

Anglian Sovereign is well equipped in that respect. In addition to the usual propulsion, thruster and steering controls the tug can be controlled when manoeuvring using the Rolls Royce ‘Poscon’ P450, single joystick control system. The system fully integrates the functions of main propulsion, rudders and bow and stern thrusters and enables the vessel to be moved in any direction while a predetermined heading is maintained.

For towing Anglian Sovereign is fitted with a massive Brattvag, triple drum, hydraulically powered, towing winch with a line pull on each drum of 300 tonnes and brake holding capacity of 450 tonnes. Each drum is capable of holding 1500m of 76mm diameter steel wire rope. Line handling equipment includes a set of Karm forks and towing pins with a safe working load of 500 tonnes, located forward of the stern roller.

The tug is equipped for fire fighting with two Skum ‘Fire Chief’ combined water/foam monitors located at the after end of the bridge deck. Water is supplied to the monitors by two 1200m 3/hr Skum pumps driven by the main engines.

The construction of Anglian Sovereign and Anglian Princess in China has been a massive project for the staff of Klyne Tugs and their suppliers.

Continuous on-site supervision has been provided throughout the construction of both vessels by Mr Bob Andrews of Teign Marine, supported by regular visits from Klyne’s technical staff. Naval architect Mr Bob Medler of R & J Maritime of Plymouth has been deeply involved in the entire fleet replacement programme and liaised closely with the MCA.

Contract management services continue to be provided by Mr Peter Worden of Offshore Shipbrokers Ltd. The vessel replacement programme is to continue but no details of future plans have yet been announced.

After taking on stores and some further preparation Anglian Sovereign will leave Lowestoft to take up station with HM Coastguard off the north east coast of Scotland. Her sister ship Anglian Princess is on station at Falmouth to protect the western approaches and Anglian Monarch patrols the Dover Strait under joint English/ French operational control.

The salvage tug Anglian Prince resides at Stornoway to cover the area around the western isles of Scotland.