CUSTOMERS

By Patrik Wheater

Turning dreams into reality

Turkish shipyard Uzmar has come a long way since its humble beginnings more than four decades ago. Today it’s the world’s fastest builder of state-of- the-art – with Rolls-Royce at its heart as a vital supplier

26 Rolls-Royce Indepth magazine hen Harbour Pilot Captain Rolls-Royce's Erkut Aslanoğlu (left) Altay Altuğ went with Noyan Altuğ shoreside and set up a pilotage Wand towage services company in ’s Çanakkale region, he may not have envisioned presiding over what was to become one of the world’s foremost builders of state-of- the-art tugboats. Some 45 years on and Capt. Altuğ remains at the helm of the business he started in 1973, although his son Noyan, as CEO, now oversees day-to-day operations of a company that not only operates 12 modern and 2005 – were built at a rented tugboats but also builds them. yard in Turkey’s hub Since the first Uzmar-built tug in Tuzla, on the outer fringes of was delivered in 1993 to its own . But the Altuğs wanted their account, the yard has established own facility from which to make their itself as the go-to builder of quality mark in terms of production values tug and pilot boats. and corporate/cultural identity. The yard has delivered more “We were passionate about than 120 vessels – the majority of implementing a vision of an which built to Robert Allan designs advanced, modular-based serial – to customers that include Egon production method based on our Oldendorff, Smit, Abu Dhabi National experience of tug operations and Company, Oil Company, building,” says Noyan. This vision Hidrovias do Brasil, Rio Tinto and manifested itself in 2005 with the the Suez Canal Authority, to name opening of the shipyard in the but a few. Kocaeli Free Zone, near Izmit. The Recounting the company’s first tug for export, Noyan Altuğ says he will never forget the date. “We signed our first newbuilding contract for three tugboats for ISKEN on 11 September 2001. Maybe it was the only contract signed in the world on that tragic day.” These first vessels – those delivered between 1993

Rolls-Royce Indepth magazine 27 CUSTOMERS UZMAR IN ACTION

Uzmar is now world renowned for its tugs – and (below) Noyan 120k is proud to show footprint in off a model of the m2 by end finished article of 2019

120 vessels delivered

20 annual tug build capacity

Uzmar Workboat and Tug be a world leader in productivity, at a constant. However, with was born. sustainability and the adoption of many keels laid in the early to “We were keen to establish modern technologies,” says Noyan. mid-1990s, there are still as many our own culture as a company,” Uzmar is already the world’s fastest in need of replacement. he says. “We invested in young builder – an accolade “ are bigger, technology people, created a new system and bestowed on the yard in 2010. has advanced and new regulations 12 grew together as a team. You rarely have entered into force since modern tugs see this approach these days.” Adapting to market changes many of these tugs were built,” operated And grown Uzmar has. Since Despite market 2005, the facility has expanded fluctuations to include a 63,000m2 open area impacting with an additional 30,000m2 of builders of enclosed spaces and workshops. other vessel A new 15,000m3 enclosed building types, the hall is also under construction as tugboat market part of a US$10 million investment has remained in support of new contacts from resilient, the fisheries, and international according to military and coastguard sectors. Noyan. This, he By the end of 2019, Uzmar will says, is largely have increased its footprint to due to the 120,000m2, of which 45,000m2 will average age be enclosed, and have capacity to of the 17,500 build 20 tugs per year. tugboats in “In the future, Uzmar will operation, not only be the world leader in which has kept tugboat building but we will also newbuild orders

28 Rolls-Royce Indepth magazine Rolls-Royce propulsion is at “Our relationship with the heart of Uzmar's output Rolls-Royce is more of an alliance. We’re on the same side – we offer solutions to the final user” Noyan Altuğ

time and allow operators to make the quality of the systems on more precise observations of the board our tugs. surroundings and manoeuvring “Our customers demand the operations.” highest level of engineering and Rolls-Royce will, of course, sustainability combined with continue to play the same active competent after sale services.” role in tug technology development Some of the Uzmar projects since it began collaborating with Rolls-Royce is currently involved Uzmar back in 1995. in include the Robert Allan- “The relationship we have with designed RAstar 3200-W tug Rolls-Royce over many years is for SAAM SMIT , more of an alliance,” explains a joint venture partnership Noyan. “We’re on the same side – between BOSKALIS of the we offer solutions to the final user. and SAAM SA of “For tugs, the quality of . This tug will also be the says Noyan. “The marine the design and the equipment first in Canada to feature an transportation algorithm has installed is fundamental to IMO Tier III emissions-compliant changed according to the world’s maritime safety. Yes, there is propulsion and exhaust system. economic development.” competition as far as prices are As a result, it is also expected Indeed, just ten years ago, concerned but you cannot put a to become one of the most the largest containership had price on safety. We need to trust emissions-friendly vessels of its a 7,500 TEU capacity; today, type when it enters service. vessels sail with 20,000 TEU Uzmar is also building five or more. Another factor is the LNG-Ready tugs on order with change in emissions regulations Rolls-Royce azimuth thrusters and

Read more and port authority standards planning to build 20 tugboats for about our over recent years, which means speculation soon. Plans are also partnerships on the Indepth tugboat’s power systems and the in place to expand the Uzmar mobile app equipment have to change to product portfolio with patrol and

Indepth for iPhone meet the requirements. search and rescue boats. ● is on the Apple To this end, Uzmar is currently App Store and on Google Play for building IMO Tier III tugboats and Android devices is in discussion with a number of PAs and owners to build LNG- fuelled and hybrid tugboats. Noyan sees hybrid propulsion and autonomous operation as the future for the tug market, but says safety has to take precedence. “There must be a pilot on the vessel at all times to avoid risky conditions,” he says. “But data collection will be of great value for harbours and emergency stations. It will save

Rolls-Royce Indepth magazine 29