A big, powerful, seaworthy and very versatile tug designed and built for operations in a comparatively remote part of the world. It is yet another first-rate example of the design and construction skills of the Robert Allan Ltd/Med Marine team.
"The vessel was designed for operations on Kenya's coastline with the capacity to undertake international salvage and towage operations involving very large vessels," Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) told Baird Maritime. "Capable of towing and pushing operations, buoy handling, firefighting, and with on-board oil pollution recovery equipment, the tug boasts a unique design that can accommodate a wide range of operations."
"The vessel itself provides salvage, rescue, and safety operation capabilities to the Kenya Ports Authority in coastal areas of East Africa and West Indian Ocean," added builder Med Marine. "This unique feature of the tug makes the ports authority one of the notable operators in the region."
RAL said the enhanced towage operations the tug was expected to perform required careful finite element analysis to ensure the supporting structure is fit for purpose to support the powerful deck equipment package.
For Med Marine, the challenge lay mainly with the vessel's size, as the company claims it is the largest tug it has ever built. This then led to a number of technical details being added to the company's knowhow.
RAL enjoyed a continuing trend of good business in 2022 even after several years.
"We are lucky to have built up a group of very loyal shipyard and owner clients from the tug industry. Along with our main clients, we are making investments in both technology and staff to ensure we are up to date and that we will be become well-positioned for the future."
For Med Marine, the Turkish workboat industry is also moving towards becoming similarly well-positioned.
"The industry is capable of expanding its technical knowhow to better serve the needs of operators worldwide," the builder told Baird Maritime.
For a list of the 2022 "Best Of" award winners, please click here.