South Africa’s Transnet National Ports Authority has ordered construction of two tugs to support expansion of harbour towage operations in the nation
Veecraft Custom Commercial Craft shipyard has secured contracts to build two 19.3-m long harbour tugs for delivery in Q2 2021. The twin-screw tugs will be designed, built and operated in South Africa. They will have Cummins main engines and propellers supplied by Teignbridge.
Both tugs will have a breadth of 7.25 m, free running speed of 10 knots and bollard pull of 15 tonnes for coastal or harbour towing as they will be tasked with a wide range of responsibilities from towage to pilotage work.
Cummins is supplying a pair of K38 engines that comply with IMO II emissions requirements. Combined these deliver 1,490 kW at 1,800 rpm and turn Teignbridge B-series propellers through ZF 3750 gears with 5.950:1 ratios. These fixed-pitch propellers will have five blades and diameter of 1,829 mm.
The gears will be fitted with a trolling valve, an adjustable pressure-regulating device, to enable slow-speed precision manoeuvring.
Cummins will also supply a pair of generators to produce auxiliary electrical power for each vessel. Two Cummins 4B3.9 generators will develop 47 kW at 1,500 rpm, producing 50 kVA of electricity at 400 V.
Veecraft will install deck equipment for each vessel, including a windlass with capstan, an aft deck capstan, and a towing bollard fitted with a towing hook.
Each tug will accommodate a crew of up to six people and have capacity to store 28 m3 of fuel, 10 m3 of water, and 0.83 m3 of lube oil.
Transnet National Ports Authority expects to name these tugs during their commissioning, which is scheduled for June 2021.
Other tugs have been ordered for east Africa towage and salvage operations this year. Kenya Ports Authority contracted Turkish shipbuilder Med Marine in May to construct a 42-m long tug to provide coastal towage, salvage services and harbour support.This azimuth stern drive tug will have a bollard pull of around 120 tonnes, making it the most powerful in the region.
Svitzer has secured a new five-year contract to provide harbour towage and pilot transfer services for Nacala Logistics in Mozambique.
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