Anchor handling tug supply vessel

Anchor handling tug ( Anchor Handling Tug, Abbr: AHT), sometimes colloquially called anchor layers, represent a special form of tugs; they will at the assistance of oil rigs, large pipe fitters and in the spread of drilling rigs and other large offshore units without own drive be used.

The name comes from "Anchor Drag ," the anchor-laying, which places high demands on the crew of the anchor handling tug. As the offshore units, such as pipe fitters in the pipeline laying, moving forward to the anchors have the anchor very firmly and worked deep into the seabed. They must therefore be " broken out " of the powerful anchor handling tug, spent the anchor in the direction of travel and can be re- thrown there.

Partly have anchor handling tug also transport capacity to supply material for example for oil rigs. Such combined tractors are often called Anchor Handling Tug Supply ( AHTS ). The transition from the AHT for utilities is fluid.

The AHT Far Samson is with a bollard pull of 432 tons one of the strongest anchor handling tug in the world.

Selection of German shipyards building the AHT

• People Stralsund, AHT built so far only for Maersk
• Mützelfeldtwerft Cuxhaven, built a series of AHTS for Harms salvage