VESSEL REVIEW | Madam Kalina – Tug pair to support Guyanese offshore oil sector

US-based Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO) has handed over two new offshore-capable escort tugs in a series to its Guyanese affiliate vessel operating company G-Boats Guyana.

A'rinra and Madam Kalina were built at ECO's Gulf Ship facilities in Mississippi. A'rinra was named after a species of electric eel while Madam Kalina honours the Kalina indigenous people of Guyana.

Both vessels utilise a hybrid ASD tug design developed by the Damen Shipyards Group of the Netherlands in compliance to American Bureau of Shipping class rules. This will enable them to operate up to 160 kilometres from the coast to support the operations of ExxonMobil Guyana at the Payara oil field in the Starbroek Production Block. This is in anticipation of Guyana's increased oil exports in the coming years.

The tugs each have an LOA of 164 feet (50.1 metres), a beam of 53 feet (16.19 metres), a maximum draught of 21 feet (6.45 metres), a displacement of 2,243 tons (2,035 tonnes), and accommodations for 24 crewmembers. Power for each vessel is provided by two Caterpillar main engines.

The tugs will primarily provide ship handling and mooring assistance for shuttle tankers that will load oil from the floating production storage and offloading vessels (FPSOs) currently deployed at the Payara field. The vessels' secondary duties will include hose handling and maintenance. To ensure safe operations, the tugs' wheelhouses are provided with improved all-round visibility.

The aft deck space on each tug meanwhile has an Appleton Marine cargo crane and a small tender.

A'rinra and Madam Kalina will both sail under the flag of Vanuatu.

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