New Shoalbuster for Abu Dhabi – three weeks early

The vessel, named Al Marfa 1 was handed over recently at a ceremony at Damen’s Hardinxveld facility attended by: Zeid Zakaria, Senior Vice President, IRSHAD; Khalfan Ali Al Ali, Ship Building Projects Manager, IRSHAD; Pascal Slingerland, Damen Sales Manager Middle East; Jos van Woerkum, Director Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld and Peter Baars, Product Director Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld.

IRSHAD are a long-term customer for Damen, having previously taken delivery of a number of Stan Tugs and this latest vessel will be used to maintain single point buoy moorings. The ‘workboat’ style of fitting out of the vesselindicates the requirement for working in close proximity to buoys with a range of explosion-proof equipment included in the specification. Al Marfa 1 will also benefit from Damen’s facility at Sharjah during the warranty period and beyond.

The vessel is classed by BV with the notation 1+HULL MACH Tug unrestricted navigation, (Special Service – Offshore Maintenance vessel (aft deck ATEX 2 zone). Main dimensions are LOA 23.25m, beam 8m, draught 2.29m and displacement 238 tons. Tank capacities include fuel oil 45.5m3 and fresh water 13.9m3.

Propulsion is provided by two Caterpillar C32 Acert diesels developing in total 1,268bkW (1,724bhp) at 1,800 RPM connected to Reintjes WAF 464L 5.042:1 gearboxes, in turn driving two Promarin fixed-pitch propellers within 1,606mmm diameter V.d Giessen Optima nozzles. A 120bhp hydraulic bow thruster is included and performance figures quoted as maximum bollard pull ahead 21.7t and maximum speed 11 knots.

The deck layout and equipment detail is particularly suited for the duties Al Marfa 1 will carry out. A 55 ton holding power towing winch is provided with pull figures of 30 tons at 6m/min and 6 tons at 24m/min. Dominating the after deck immediately abaft of and to starboard of the winch is a Heila HLRM 80-3S deck crane capable of lifting 5.3t at 12.04m and also fitted with a 5t pull winch. A further indication of the tug’s multipurpose role is provision of a 25t SWL A-frame, two 600m diameter 12t SWL vertical stern guiding rollers and three WK Hydraulics towing pins.

Heated and air-conditioned accommodation is provided for six persons consisting of a two berth captain’s cabin and two double crew cabins. The navaid and communication fit on Al Marfa 1 is extensive and includes navaids supplied by Furuno (including ECDIS) and Simrad. The communication installation is mainly supplied by Sailor and Thrane & Thrane and other notable equipment in the wheelhouse includes Cassens & Plath and Anschuetz compasses, Sigma intercom, Marble bridge watch alarm, Seatel satellite TV system, Obsermet wind indicator and MCA hydrocarbon and hydrogen sulphide gas detection system.

By Peter Barker