The truly multi-purpose vessel is equipped to tow, push, plough dredge, carry out pilotage duties, survey work and fulfil general harbour maintenance roles. Fair Maid of Perth outperformed expectations on trials and recorded a creditable bollard pull of 9.4 tons and a free running speed of 9.6 knots.

The new vessel was constructed by associate company Macduff Shipbuilders Ltd and meets the requirements of the MCA Workboat Code Category 3. Fair Maid has an overall length of 13.00m, a moulded breadth of 5.40m, depth moulded of 2.47m and a draft aft of 1.90m with 6 tons of deck cargo. The all steel hull is sub-divided below decks into four main compartments; the fore peak/store, crew accommodation, engine room and steering flat/aft peak. Two main tanks accommodate 4,700 litres of fuel oil and 137 litres of fresh water. A heavy push knee is fitted in the bow and fendered, along with the forward quarters at deck level, with ‘D’ section moulded rubber. Vehicle tyres are used elsewhere and steel rubbing bars are carefully located in areas adjacent to the plough dredge and its towing wires.

Accommodation is provided for a crew of two, with two berths, a WC and washing facilities below deck and mess area in the wheelhouse. When the vessel is in use a maximum compliment of four can be carried. The wheelhouse has good all round vision and features the control position and skippers chair to port and a small mess area to starboard.

Fair Maid is propelled by twin Iveco Cursor 330 main engines, each rated at 330bhp at 1,800rpm, driving twin fixed pitch 1,300mm diameter propellers. Power is transmitted through Twin Disc MG 5091 DC 4.5:1 gearboxes. Engine cooling is affected by a self contained keel cooling system. Kort Propulsion Ltd supplied a pair of fixed nozzles, propellers, stern gear and a bow thruster producing 320kg of thrust. Hydraulic power for the latter is supplied by a pump coupled to the power takeoff on one gearbox. Twin high performance aerofoil rudders, in conjunction with the nozzles and bow thruster, maximise thrust and considerably enhance manoeuvrability.

Deck equipment includes a Mampaey quick release towing hook (type DCX 8/15) with a working capacity of 15 tons and tested to 30 tons, and an ‘A ‘ frame for plough dredging. The ‘A’ frame has a safe working load of 7 tons and is used in conjunction with a hydraulic winch rated at 525kg on the third layer. To assist with loading and unloading stores and assisting with work around the port, a Guerra M60.90A2 hydraulic deck crane with a telescopic jib is installed. The crane has a maximum capacity of 765kg at a maximum outreach of 6.87m and 2,285kg at 2.5m.

 A fire monitor mounted on the wheelhouse top gives the tug a limited fire fighting capability. The manually operated monitor is supplied with water by a hydraulically powered water pump by Azcue.

This new vessel represents a significant investment for the management of Perth Harbour but it will give them a multi-functional state of the art harbour tug capable of performing numerous tasks and able to safely assist vessels in the confines of the harbour.

Macduff has a near sister ship under construction for the Peterhead Port Authority, the main difference being the installation of the new Mampaey DOT system to further enhance the towing and safety performance.

Macduff Ship Design are currently working on a range of harbour tugs up to 25m incorporating the Mampaey DOT system and will have details at the forthcoming Seawork 2007 exhibition on Stand No 2.