Big pull for Angolan workboat
Spanish company Fluidmecanica has supplied a towing equipment package for the 44m multipurpose tug ‘Kwanza’, destined for the Maritime and Port Institute of Angola in West Africa.
One of three vessels designed, engineered and built by Francisco Cardama SA shipyard, Vigo, Spain it has been designed for a 60 tonne bollard pull.
The towing winch has a drum belt holding force of 130 tonnes, a speed of 0-14m per minute and a first layer pull of 25 tonnes, and can take 800m of Ø50.3mm cable. The power for the winch comes from two Poclain hydraulic motors which feature a direct coupling shaft drive, giving low rev, high torque operation.
Fluidmecanica also supplied a gear box/clutch system for controlling the towing winch’s hydraulic pump, a 75 tonne capacity towing hook plus all the associated hydraulic and pneumatic installation.
On top of this was support for Kwanza’s oil recovery operations: Kwanza is outfitted with 300m of boom and reel, two skimmers with a capacity of 600 tons per hour each and six portable tanks: this meant a control panel for the skimmers and flexible hoses plus the necessary hydraulic installation for skimmers, crane and barrier drum.
By Stevie Knight
