FULL SIZE VESSEL

  The WYEFORCE was developed over 10 years ago and at that time was the latest addition to the “Itchen Marine” fleet.  Itchen Marine was founded in 1947 by Ronald Wyeth and they operate tugs, launches and barges around River Itchen at Southampton.  Work for the WYEFORCE includes ship towage and liner berthing in and around Southampton waters. 

  The WYEFORCE was built in 1994 by Hepworth Shipyard of Hull, England.  Her hard chine hull is heavily built and her conventional twin screw layout uses fixed pitch propellers working within fixed Kort nozzles.  Originally the tug was to have been built in the Netherlands as Itchen Marine had thought that that the British yards were too expensive.  It was first planed to use the Caterpillar 3508 diesels. However, between Hepworth Shipyard of Hull and the Caterpillar dealers Leverton in Windsor, a better solution was proposed.  This new proposal suggested that the Caterpillar 3412 diesels be used instead replacing the previously suggested Caterpillar 3508 diesels.  The Caterpillar 3412 diesels gave an improved power to weight ratio and the tug was built by Hepworth Shipyard of Hull.  The final design for the WYEFORCE uses the Caterpillar 3412 diesels with box coolers and they are coupled to Reinje WAF 360 reverse reduction gears with a reduction ratio of 6 to 1.  With a total of 1,000kw, a 19 ton bollard pull has been achieved, together with a free running speed of 11 knots.  Apart from the machinery and the 13,000 liters of fuel capacity, there is still enough room below for accommodations for four crew members.