New Tug Delivered for Kenya Ports Authority
A new tug, Eugene, constructed by Cheoy Lee Shipyards, Hong Kong, has been delivered to its owners Kenya Ports Authority, Mombasa, Kenya.
The new tug, a RAstar 3200 designed by Robert Allan Ltd., has the following principal particulars:
- Length overall: 32 m
- Beam, molded: 12.8 m
- Depth, molded (hull): 5.37 m
- Maximum draft: 5.8 m
Eugene is classed and built according to the following Lloyd’s Register of Shipping notation: ✠100A1, Escort Tug, ✠LMC, UMS, Fire-Fighting Ship 1 with Water Spray, Unrestricted Voyages, IWS
Main tank capacities are:
- Fuel oil: 193 m³
- Fresh water: 35 m³
- Foam: 16 m³
On trials, the Eugene met or exceeded all performance expectations, with the following results:
- Bollard pull, ahead: 75.6 metric tons
- Bollard pull, astern: 76 metric tons
- Free running speed, ahead: 13.5 knots
The vessel has been outfitted with full accommodation for up to crew of eight. The master’s and chief engineer’s cabins are located on the main deck, with three additional two-person crew cabins on the lower accommodation deck. The galley and a spacious mess/lounge room complete the deckhouse arrangement.
The deck machinery comprises a ship-assist hawser winch forward, manufactured by MacGregor and a radial type tow hook on the aft deck. In addition, a capstan is installed aft to facilitate line handling operations.
The wheelhouse is designed for maximum all-round visibility and provides maximum visibility to both fore and aft deck working areas.
Main propulsion for this RAstar 3200 tug consists of a pair of CAT 3516C HD high-speed diesel engines; each rated 2,240 kW at 1,800 rpm, and each driving a Rolls-Royce 255 fixed pitch Z-drive unit, in ASD configuration.
The electrical plant comprises three identical Cummins diesel gen-sets, each with a power output of 80 ekW.
Ship-handling fenders at the bow consist of one row cylindrical fender at the main deck level, with W block fenders between the main deck and the knuckle. Two hollow ‘D’ fenders provide protection at the main and foc’sle deck sheer lines, and W block fenders are used at the stern.
The unique hull form of the RAstar tugs gives these vessels a level of crew safety and comfort that will enable operation in conditions previously deemed unworkable, the designer said. The RAstar hull form, developed and used exclusively by Robert Allan Ltd., has been proven in both model and full-scale testing to provide significantly enhanced escort towing and sea-keeping performance. The motions and accelerations are significantly less than those of comparable sized, wall-sided “standard” tug hulls.