‘Sally McLoughlin’ carries family firm forward

The long established, family owned business has named the vessel after managing director John McLoughlin Sr’s late wife. The

Sally McLoughlin

will operate in the Port of Larne, the Port of Belfast and in Belfast Lough.

The independent company has served the shipping industry for four generations, with John McLoughlin Sr and Jr, son in law Scott Tasker, and the McLoughlin daughters all involved and determined to see the business grow by investing in new tonnage.

Designed by Macduff Ship Design, the vessel is fully capable of towing, pushing, plough dredging, general harbour work, personnel transfers, survey work and pilot duties. It is built to the requirements of the MCA Small Commercial Vessel and Pilot Vessel Code of Practice for Category 2 waters (60 miles from safe haven). Certification is by The Society of Consulting Marine Engineers and Ship Surveyors.

The Sally McLoughlin surpassed all expectations on trials and achieved a remarkable bollard pull of 23 tons [average] ahead and 18 tons astern, whilst maintaining an average speed of 10.3 knots in offshore conditions.

With a length overall of 16m, a beam moulded of 6.2m and depth moulded of 2.9m, the vessel carries 12,000 litres of fuel, 215 litres of fresh water and 4,000 litres of water ballast. The vessel is equipped for a crew of two and four supernumeraries.

The Sally McLoughlin’s hull and wheelhouse is of steel construction, with a transom stern, raked soft nose stem and a centre skeg aft. The wheelhouse is forward of amidships. The helmsman enjoys a NorSap 800 Comfort chair on a fixed pedestal. There is a crew room with a seating area, a min-cooker, a microwave oven, refrigerator and TV. Off the crew room is a WC, wash basin and shower. In addition to day accommodation there is also the facility to stay on board overnight if working away from home.

A comprehensive fit out of navigation and communication equipment supplied by Selex Communications includes JMA-5210 and JMA-5104 BB X band radars, a Navtex NCR333, Sailor RT2048 VHF, Icom IC-M411 DSC VHF, Icom GM 1600E VHF with charger and two Furuno GP32 GPS. There is a Navitron NT777autopilot, Olex 3D plotter, JRC JLR-20 GPD gyro, JRC JFC-130 echosounder, Transas AIS transceiver, Tron SART 20, and GME-MT405FF EPIRB.

The main engines are two Doosan 4V222 TIH units supplied by WaterMota Ltd, each rated 800 bhp at 1,800 rpm heavy duty rating and coupled to Twin Disc MGX 5222DC gearboxes with ratios of 6.1:1 and QuickShift controls driving 1,700mm diameter fixed pitch Kort propellers in fixed Kort nozzles. The Twin Disc QuickShift controls were supplied by MIT Ltd, as were the gearboxes. A Doosan auxiliary engine from WaterMota is rated at 20kW and provides single phase power. The vessel represents a significant order for WaterMota Ltd as the equipment supplied adds to the company’s range of main engines, gensets and power packs.

To achieve high levels of manoeuvrability the vessel is equipped with high lift rudders and a Kort KT30DD hydraulic bow thruster. There are Weka box coolers for the main engines and gearboxes, and a Fernstrum gridcooler for the generator, all supplied by Kort Propulsion. Wills Ridley supplied the steering gear, with a 24V electro-hydraulic power pack for power assistance.

Stern gear is manufactured by Macduff Shipyards and incorporates Deep Sea Seals inboard seals, cutlass bearings, spurs rope cutters and shaft earthing units.

The tow hook comprises a Mampaey DCX 18 / 25 DISK type with a test load of 50 tons. In addition, the vessel is fitted with a seven ton winch for gog rope and plough duties aft and a second seven ton winch for tow duties forward. These hydraulic winches were designed and manufactured by Macduff Shipyards Ltd. A hydraulic anchor windlass is fitted forward and a Guerra 60.90 M2 hydraulic crane rated at 6 t/m serves the aft deck. A portable aft gantry provides for lifting the plough dredge.

The Sally McLoughlin a major investment and commitment for the future for John McLoughlin & Son and also a major order for Macduff Ship Design as it adds to their already increasing model range of tugs and workboats. The design has created considerable interest from both UK and foreign operators and looks set to be a popular design, including a version with the Mampaey DOT system.

The vessel’s operator is certainly happy with the new addition to his fleet. Managing director John McLoughlin said, ‘We would like to thank Macduff Ship Design and Macduff Shipyards, which have never failed to impress us with the excellent standard of workmanship and timely completion. From the design to the final result, the Sally McLoughlin, we appreciate the friendly business relationships we have received.’