Kenya Ports Authority has started operating a Robert Allan-designed escort tug to boost its ability to handle post-Panamax ships simultaneously in Mombasa port
Cheoy Lee Shipyards delivered one of the most powerful harbour tugs to operate on Africa’s east coast in July this year, as the port authority owner strived to improve capabilities at a key commercial shipping terminal.
Eugene was built to a Robert Allan design and Lloyd’s Register class as a harbour and escort tug. It was built by Cheoy Lee’s Hong Kong shipyard with a bollard pull of 76 tonnes for the Kenya Ports Authority to boost capacity in Mombasa port.
Its arrival allows the authority to handle three ship berthings and unberthings simultaneously at the port, as the majority of vessels calling at Mombasa are up to post-Panamax in size.
The azimuthing stern drive (ASD) tug was built to a RAstar 3200 design with an overall length of 32.00 m, a moulded beam of 12.80 m and a moulded hull depth of 5.37 m. It has a free running speed of 13.5 knots and accommodation for a crew of eight. It also has a maximum draught of 5.80 m for most harbour operations.
In designing the hullform, Robert Allan used model testing and full-scale trials to ensure it met the escort towing and seakeeping performance requirements of owners. The naval architects said the “motions and accelerations are significantly less than those of comparable sized, wall-sided standard tug hulls.”
During sea trials, Eugene had an ahead bollard pull of 75.6 tonnes and an astern bollard pull of 76 tonnes, derived from its Caterpillar-manufactured main engine systems driving a pair of US 255 fixed pitch Z-drive units supplied by Rolls-Royce and deployed in an ASD configuration.
In the engineroom there are a pair of CAT 3516C high-speed diesel engines, each able to produce up to 2,240 kW at 1,800 rpm. There are also three identical Cummins diesel generator sets, each with a power output of 80 kW.
Eugene’s deck machinery incorporates a forward ship-assist hawser winch manufactured by MacGregor. There is also an aft radial-type tow hook and a capstan on the aft deck to facilitate line handling operations.
Its ship-handling fenders at the bow consist of one row of cylindrical fenders at the main deck level, plus W block fenders between the main deck and the knuckle. In addition, Eugene has two hollow D fenders that provide protection at the main and foc’sle deck sheer lines, and W block fenders at the tug’s stern.
This RAstar ASD tug has a FiFi 1 fire-fighting system and a wheelhouse designed for maximum all-round visibility to both fore and aft deck working areas for the tug’s master.
Eugene has tank capacity to accommodate 193 m3 of fuel oil, 35 m3 of fresh water and 16 m3 of foam for the FiFi 1 system. Its main accommodation includes a cabin each for the master and chief engineer. There are three additional two-person cabins on the lower accommodation deck, a galley and lounge room.
Eugene particulars
Owner: Kenya Ports Authority
Builder: Cheoy Lee Shipyards
Delivery: July 2018
Designer: Robert Allan
Type: harbour/escort tug
Design: RAstar 3200
Class: Lloyd’s Register
Length, oa: 32.00 m
Beam, moulded: 12.80 m
Hull depth, moulded: 5.37 m
Draught: 5.80 m
Bollard pull: 76 tonnes
Ahead speed: 13.5 knots
Main engines: 2 x CAT 3516C HD diesel
Thrusters: 2 x US 255 FP Z-drive
Gensets: 3 x Cummins, 80 kW
Accommodation: 8 crew
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