Press-Information

Friedrichshafen, 11 June 2008. Four special diesel engines produced by the Tognum subsidiary MTU Friedrichshafen will be used in the new emergency tugboat for the North Sea, supplying a total of 17,200 kilowatts for propulsion and 2,280 kilowatts of electrical power. Negotiations are taking place on the supply of additional MTU products for this special ship. The order volume is in the magnitude of €10 million. The Tognum Group is thus further strengthening its position in the market for working ships.

The new emergency tugboat, which is designed to take endangered ships off Germany’s North Sea coast to a safe harbor or to hold them safely in one position, will go into operation at the beginning of 2011. The Federal Ministry for Transport, Construction and Urban Development recently decided, following a Europe-wide invitation to tender, to charter this emergency tugboat from the “Coastal Protection Consortium.” This consortium consists of Germany’s three leading companies for tugboats and salvage vessels: Bugsier, Fairplay and URAG, as well as WIKING Helikopter Service.

The new ship will be nearly 80 meters long and 16.5 meters wide, and will be powered by two 8,600 kilowatt 20-cylinder diesel engines of MTU’s Series 8000, the most powerful engines in the Tognum subsidiary’s product range. They will provide a tugging power of more than 200 tons and will allow a tugging speed of more than 19.5 knots (36.5 kph). In comparison: normal harbor tugs have a tugging power of 20 to 80 tons and operate at about 13 knots.


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MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH
MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH is the core company of the Tognum group.

MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH supplies diesel engines and complete drive systems for ships, heavy land and rail vehicles, industrial applications and decentralized power generation plants. Covering diesel engines from 20 kW to 9,100 kW and gas turbines, the range of products is one of the most modern and wide-ranging in the sector. And to control and monitor its engines and drive plants, the company develops and manufactures its own custom-tailored electronic systems.

Tognum is one of the world’s leading suppliers of high-speed diesel engines and complete propulsion systems for ships and heavy land and rail vehicles, as well as industrial drive systems and decentralized power plants. These business operations are organized in two divisions: Engines and Onsite Energy Systems & Components. Tognum’s product portfolio includes diesel engines in the power range from 20 to 9,100 kilowatts, gas engine systems, gas turbines and fuel cells, and is one of the most modern and comprehensive in its sector. In addition, the Group develops and manufactures tailored electronic control and monitoring systems for its engines and propulsion systems.

Sales of the Tognum Group amounted to more than €2.8 billion in 2007. At the end of 2007, the Group employed approximately 8,200 personnel worldwide. It maintains a global sales and distribution network including 23 consolidated subsidiaries, more than 130 distribution partners and 1,100 authorized dealers.