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SMBC MEXICALI
Photo by: Manuel Hernández Lafuente (Copyright:Manuel Hernández Lafuente)

Built in 2009, by Union Naval Valencia (UNV) of Valencia, Spain as the SMBC Mexicali for Servicios Marítimos de Baja California, S. de R.L de C.V. of Mexico. A joint venture between the Moran Towing Corporation of New Canaan, Connecticut; and the Grupo Boluda of Spain.

The tug was the first of four tugs designed by, Naval Architect Robert Allan of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The tugs where designed to work at the Costa Azul LNG terminal on the north west coast of Mexico. A terminal that is exposed to fully developed swells from the Pacific Ocean.

Powered by a pair of MTU-16V4000 M71 diesel main engines. With Rolls Royce US255, fixed pitch z-drive units in an Azimuthing Stern Drive configuration. Through Lufkin MV1600S reduction gears. Turning a hollow carbon fiber intermediate shaft, with no line bearings for a rated 6,600 horsepower.

The electrical service is provided by four, 460V/three phase/60Hz diesel generator sets. Two of the service generator sets are rated for 125 kW each. And, are intended for normal operations. When the winch or FiFi systems are in operation. One of the two large gensets rated at 800 kW are placed in operation. The winch and FiFi generators are configured for parallel operations. The ship service generators are configured for operation on one generator. With the second generator on standby. And, the system is provided with an auto start capability that allows automatic start up of the selected standby generator and connection to the dead bus in the event of a generator failure. The tug's Fire-fighting equipment meets Fi-Fi 1 classification. Using electrically driven Nijhuis pumps and monitors.

Her deck equipment consists of a Markey DESDF-48WF winch. This 521 kW winch features dual drums each with a capacity of 200 meters of 80(mm) of UHMW-PE soft line. Using variable frequency electric drives, dynamic motor braking and water cooled disc brakes. The winch is capable of asymmetric render/recover operation that will maintain a constant line tension in rough sea conditions. The hawser winch is accompanied by a Markey 7.5kW WEPC-14 anchor windlass, as well as a 15kW, CEP-60 stern capstan. The tug is also fitted with a large "h" bitt, and a vertical capstan for general line handling.


  • Vessel Name: SMBC MEXICALI
  • Vessel Service: TOWING VESSEL
  • IMO Number: 9456812
  • Trade Indicator: Coastwise Unrestricted, Registry
  • Call Sign: XCKU2
  • Hull Material: STEEL
  • Ship Builder: Unión Naval Valencia (UNV), S.A. - Valencia. Cons.
  • Year Built: 2009
  • Length: 104
  • Hailing Port: Ensenada, BC, Mexico
  • Hull Depth: 18
  • Hull Breadth: 43
  • Gross Tonnage: 495