Robert Allan Engineering & Design

RAVE Series

Robert Allan Ltd. Voith Escort tug concept, introduced in 2013 with Voith Turbo Marine, featuring two longitudinally aligned VSP drives for precise force generation.

Description

The RAVE (Robert Allan Ltd. Voith Escort) tug is a highly manoeuvrable, high-performance escort and ship-handling tug concept introduced in 2013 and jointly developed by Robert Allan Ltd. and Voith Turbo Marine. Its most distinctive feature is the longitudinal (fore and aft) alignment of the two Voith Schneider Propeller drives, in contrast to the conventional transverse tractor configuration.

The arrangement offers very precise force generation, essential for indirect escort towing and for working in confined harbour and channel areas. The RAVE tug uses the variable pitch characteristics and X/Y logic of two Voith Schneider propellers for power allocation and precise manoeuvring. Its performance and configuration were documented through model tests and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis.

Key features

Fore and aft VSP drive configuration
Higher indirect steering forces than a conventional VSP tractor configuration
Performance proven by testing and analysis

Applications

Escort towing and ship-handling in confined harbours and channels.

Truckable Tug Chartering

Charter of 600 HP twin-screw truckable push boats with a hinged pilothouse for road transport to rivers, lakes and remote reservoirs.

Other service

Crosby Yacht Yard

Dockage and Moorings

Seasonal and transient dockage and moorings at the Crosby Yacht Yard marina in Osterville, Cape Cod, with a fuel dock on site.

Engineering & Design

General Dynamics Mission Systems

Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mission System Integration

Open-architecture computing infrastructure and whole-ship electronic integration for the U.S. Navy Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship, plus NSM integration and C5I lifecycle support.