RPC12

The RPC12 (Remorqueurs Portuaires et Côtiers de 12 tonnes de traction au point fixe, "Harbour and Coastal tugboat, 12-tonne bollard pull") is a type of harbour tugboat operated by the French Navy. They utilise Voith propulsion to develop a 12-tonne bollard pull.[1]

Remorqueurs Portuaires et Côtiers de 12 tonnes de traction au point fixe (RPC12)
Le Four maneuvering in Brest harbour on 10 November 2004
Class overview
NameRPC12
BuildersLorient Naval Industries (LNI), Socarenam
Operators French Navy
Preceded by
  • Actif class
  • Acajou class
  • Aigrette class
  • Bonite class
Subclasses
  • RPC12 type A
  • RPC12 type B
  • RP12[1]
General characteristics
TypeHarbour tugboat
Displacement220 tonnes (259 full load)[2]
Length25 m (82 ft 0 in)[2]
Beam8.4 m (27 ft 7 in)[2]
Height13.2 m (43 ft 4 in) (6.9 m, 23 ft with mast removed) [2]
Draught3.4 m (11 ft 2 in)[2]
Propulsion
  • Type A: 2 × SACM-Wärtsilä UD30 V12 M3D diesel engines (2 × 683 hp, 509 kW)
  • Type B: 2 × Baudouin 12P15 2S SKC diesel engines (2 × 660 hp (490 kW)) [2]
Speed11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)[2]
Range800 nmi (1,500 km; 920 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)[2]
Boats & landing
craft carried		1 × rigid-hulled inflatable boat[2]
Complement5 (harbour operations) to 8 (coastal operations)[2]
Sensors and
processing systems
  • One navigation radar:
  • Type A: Decca RM170
  • A682 Rascas: Furuno
  • Others: Racal Decca Bridgemaster C181-4[2]
Profile view of Armen undergoing repairs, with her Voith Schneider propellers clearly visible under the hull
Detail of Armen's propellers

Design and description

The RPC12 has been classified into three sub-types: the original version, called "Type A" (comprising Fréhel and Saire), was designed as a dual-purpose tugboat capable of supporting shipping operations both in harbours and off the coast. After the two first units, the design was simplified, while retaining most functionalities, to reduce cost, yielding the "Type B" (comprising Armen, La Houssaye, Kéréon, Sicié and Taunoa). The nine remaining units constitute the RP12 type, which is further simplified to operate only within harbours (comprising Lardier, Giens, Mengam, Balaguier, Taillat, Nividic, Port Cros, Le Four and Eckmühl). Because of these differing capabilities, the RPC12 of both types are classified "auxiliaries", with an "A"-prefixed pennant number, while the RP12 are considered "yard vessels", with the corresponding "Y"-prefixed pennant numbers.[1]

The latest in the series, Rascas, is an improved high-sea ship with better sonic isolation and air conditioning, or use in tropical waters,[1] and a different radar.[2]

Ships
ShipPennantBuilderCommissionedHome portFate
FréhelA675Lorient Naval Industries (LNI)23 May 1989CherbourgIn active service
SaireA676LNI6 October 1989CherbourgIn active service
ArmenA677LNI6 December 1991BrestIn active service
La HoussayeA678LNI30 October 1992BrestIn active service
KéréonA679LNI5 December 1992BrestIn active service
SiciéA680LNI6 October 1994Lorient (until 1995), ToulonIn active service
TaunoaA681SOCARENAM9 March 1996BrestIn active service
LardierY638SOCARENAM12 April 1995ToulonIn active service
GiensY639SOCARENAM2 December 1994ToulonIn active service
MengamY640SOCARENAM6 October 1994BrestIn active service
BalaguierY641SOCARENAM8 July 1995ToulonIn active service
TaillatY642SOCARENAM18 October 1995ToulonIn active service
NividicY643SOCARENAM13 December 1996BrestIn active service
Port CrosY649SOCARENAM21 June 1997ToulonIn active service
Le FourY647SOCARENAM13 March 1998BrestIn active service
EckmühlY646SOCARENAMIn active service
RascasA682SOCARENAM22 November 2003ToulonIn active service

Citations
  1. Remorqueurs type RPC12, Netmarine
  2. Remorqueur type RPC 12 : Caractéristiques principales, Netmarine
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