African Crew Boat Opts for Reliability
A new crew boat operated by AlbaPetroleum has beenpowered with a pair of Perkins Sabre M215C turbocharged and charge air cooledengines.
Destined to operate out of the port of Maputo, the 17m steel hull support vessel ‘Joey’ was built by Alba Petroleum’s subsidiary company African Marine & General Engieering.
The 215hp Perkins Sabre engines are coupled to Hurth ZF 63A gearboxes for a top speed of 15 knots. The boat ill be used for approximately 36 hours per week in Maputo ferrying replacement crew and essential supplies between the harbour and ships off the east coast of Africa. There is also a possibility that Joey may occasionally be hired for use as a police patrol boat.
Alba Petroleum provides bunkering, transport and ship services on several long term contracts with fishing fleets trawling in the Indian Ocean. Its support vessels also service the company’s own oil tankers and barges that operate off Kenya, the Comoro islands, Mozambique and Madagascar. Reliability is a major consideration when selecting engines for its boats.
‘We decided on the M215C because we had 13 years experience of Perkins Sabre reliability on another of our boats, said Alba’s senior marine superintendent Oscar Lobo. ‘We have also enjoyed ready availability of spares and excellent technical support.’
The engines for Joey were supplied by Perkins Sabre South African distributor Barloworld Equipment Energy-Perkins.
