‘Afon Menai’ delivered

The vessel has been designed by Technisch Bureau Gommers and was custom built by Neptune Shipyards for Holyhead Towing. Propulsion is supplied by three 1000 bhp Caterpillar C32 marine engines. The engines drive the 3x 1350 mm propellers in nozzles through Twin Disc 5321 reduction gears obtaining a bollard pull of approximately 30 tonnes and free running speed over 12 knots. Cooling is done by bin coolers which required special attention due to the shallow draft.

The vessel has one box cooled Caterpillar C4.4 generator set and one radiator cooled C4.4 generator set. Hydraulic power is supplied by a Caterpillar 6.6 direct mounted hydraulic pump.

It is outfitted with a Hamworthy ST1A-C sewage treatment and RWO SKIT S bilge water seperator system. The tug has a large free deck of approximately 150 m2. with a loading capacity of 5 tonnes/m2. Maximum deck load is 50 tonnes and there are 3x20ft container bays. A 40 tonne split drum main winch, towing winch and two anchor handling winches has been installed. On the towing bit there is a proper folding Heila HLRM 65-5S deck crane. Other deck equipment includes Triplex Shark Jaws, Triplex towing pins, a 50 tonnes towing eye and 45 tonnes Mampaey towing hook. With a minimal operating draft of 1.5 m the tug still has plenty of fuel/water and deck cargo capacities.

With a Gross Tonnage of 199, as required by Holyhead, Neptune Shipyards claim the vessel is versatile and economical in terms of manning.

Holyhead Towing operates specialist shallow draft tugs & multicats, workboats, survey & transport vessels and crew boats from the Port of Holyhead on the island of Anglesey in North Wales. The company is continuously investing in new innovations and equipment and the Afon Menai, a new addition to operate in ultra shallow waters, sets new standards.

By Jake Frith