General: ELBE und EMS are Voith-Schneider tractor tugs with their propulsion
under the bow. Just under the blades of the propulsion units is a protective plate. This plate is installed to protect the
blades against groundings and also supports during drydocking of the tugboat. A stern skeg was fitted to enhance course stability
and steering forces. The VSP are driven by a pair of MaK diesel engines typ 8M25. Each main engine develops a total of 3590bhp.
giving a speed of 14knots and a bollard pull of 75ton(m) The tank capacities for fuel oil are: 230m3. The tugs have an open stern
with a stern roller for offshore duties.
After-/Working deck:
The work deck is covered with hard wood and and flanked by offshore-type cargo
rails. Between the cargo rails and the bulwark are some bollards, exhausts and warping heads located. In the middle of the
working deck is a retractable towing eye. A cover for the retractable towing eye when down is stored a the portside cargo rail.
The working deck has an unobstructed area of about 110 sqm and anchors can be taken aboard. The winch is of a waterfall type and
was manufactured by Hatlapa. The lower drum carries two steel wires with a length of 300m and a diameter of 52mm. The drum for
harbour work has a pulling force of 30tonnes at 0-24m/min, the drum for anchor handling has a pulling force of 80tonnes at 0-9m/min.
The upper winch drum is for offshore use only and carries a steel wire with a length of 1200m and a diameter of 52mm. The pulling
force is 30tonnes at 0-24m/min. The brake force is between 60tonnes and 135tonnes. The winch is hydraulically driven. At both
side of the mainwinch you will find one Tuggerwinch with a towing force of 10tonnes. Both tugboats, ELBE and EMS have no towing
hook! Instead there is a warping head located at the base of the towing winch.
Forecastle/ boat deck:
The forecastle deck is raised a full deck above the main deck. On this deck
the hydraulically driven combined anchor and mooring winch made by Hatlapa was fitted. Also on this deck at starbord side is
the work boat manufactured by Zodiac, the davit and the mast for the sternlights. Behind the deckhouse on port side there a
Palfinger-Marine-Crane type PM 18080 MD S-20 with a safe work load (swl)of 0,8t at 15m reach. At both side of the deckshouse you
will find the life rafts.
Bridge deck:
The bridge deck forms the roof of the deckhouse. At the stern side of the railing a big
antenna is fitted. At the upper edge of the deck are the tubes for the self drenching system. On both sides stairs lead on to
the bridge with lifebouys fitted to the railings.
Bridge:
On the bridge you will find some completely new instrumentation and controls as to the older
tugboats of URAG, the new ELBE and EMS are both fitted with the new "sail-by-wire" system. The transmission of
the steering instruction occurs in an electronic way. The new throttle control and the steering wheel are much smaller than
the old ones and not arranged side by side. On the starbord side of the console you will find the throttle control and on the
port side is the steering wheel, the radars were made by Koden of the type MDC 1810 P 16. There also an Inmarsat communicationcenter,
a DGPS, a GMDSS and a compass Navigat MK2.
Top deck:
On the top deck a hinged mast with the navigation lights, the fire fighting monitors from
FFS and two searchlights from Seematz one directed to fore and one aft. The aerial is made by Simrad.
Accommodation:
Both tugboats have 3 single cabins, two 2-bed cabins and one single cabin with an
additional bed. For harbour work there are 3 men on board. During offshore work there will be an additional crew. The cabin for
the master and the chief engineer are located in the deckshouse above the boat deck. All other cabins, messroom and galley are
on the working deck level. The galley is made of stainless steel and has direct access from the messroom and the working deck.
