Soco (ex-Ulupinar VIII), the third of three newbuilding Robert Allan Ltd. design 45 tonne bollard pull compact ASD tugs, has been delivered by Sanmar Denizcilik Makine of Istanbul, Turkey to Caucedo Marine Services, Ltd. of Boca Chica, Dominican Republic. Caucedo Marine owns the sister-tug Haina which was delivered in 2008. The Soco will be fully operated by Remolcadores Dominicanos, owner of the sister-tug Nizao built last year. The 80 ft by 29.8 ft x 13.1 ft Ulupinar series tugs are powered by a pair of CAT 3512TA diesels developing a total of 3,300BHP at 1,800RPM to aft-mounted US-155 fixed pitch Rolls Royce azimuthing drives. Soco is named after a river in the eastern part of Dominican Republic.
The RINA C+ Hull & Machinery classed tug is fitted with Rolls-Royce Rauma Brattvaag hydraulic towing winches fore and aft, Data hydraulic eight-inch towing pins and a Data hydraulic 45 tonne SWL quick-release tow hook. Two Volvo-Penta diesel generators provide electrical power.
A representative of Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, Wash., who brokered the construction of the three ASD tugs, attended the sea-trials and handover of the tug. As with the previous two sister-tugs Haina and Nizao, the new owners are sailing the Soco on its own bottom over 5,300 nautical miles from Tuzla, Turkey to Santo Domingo, where she will be employed primarily in ship assist work.