The only specialised marine publication in Oceania that focuses on the maritime industry, from super yachts to small craft to large commercial ships, including coastal shipping, tugs, tow boats, barges, ferries, tourist, sport-fishing craft
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The solid anchor winch and drum the waterblaster located in the engineroom, together with the required emergency stops. This oil transfer safety system ensure the risk of a major oil spill when refueling or discharging from the ship is mitigated against all but a catastrophic hose burst or shore connection malfunction, thereby giving the master some peace of mind without the fear of facing a major environmental fine when there is a small spill at the fueling station. PT May underway The transom incorporates a unique system of a wire control, towing pins and a stern roller. The pins are electric/ hydraulic in operation with three separate pins plus a hold-down lug. Each hardened pin slides up and down in bronze bushes and rotates on four roller bearings. In the centre of the transom is the 400mm diameter stern roller, which is balanced, running in spherical bearings with an SWL of 35 tonnes. The wire hold-down lug may be folded up or down hydraulically. Once locked in the grab position, the lug and pins maintain total control of the wire at the transom, eliminating the yawing effect in a seaway. Meanwhile, for'ard on the fo'c'sle is a hydraulically driven vertical-type 500mm diameter waist capstan giving a five tonne pull at 20m per minute using a foot-operated switch. Slightly to starboard is the main anchor and cable winch, which incorporates both chain and wire on a hydraulically powered drum. On the bow is a large double-staghorn bollard incorporating the hauling fairlead or staple. When a line is either hooked onto the bollard or led back to the capstan for hauling and power is applied astern, this little beast of a tug just lifts her bum and delivers more power astern than many of her similar cousins can muster ahead. It was interesting to note the eco-friendly stuff associated with refueling and pump-outs. A central fill and discharge station is located on the deck, alongside the main towing winch. This is fully encased and sealed with a 350mm raised coaming with its own weatherproof lockable hatch. The station drains back to the dirty oil tank. This station contains the fuel oil central fill and discharge transfer, with dry break couplings and central venting. There is dirty oil discharging and venting, lube oil filling and a connection for 10 Professional Skipper September/October 2011 On entering the wheelhouse, the main conning position affords clear vision, with only the funnel casings obstructing some of the quarter views. The second and main winch control position is between the exhaust stacks, while a third conning position is up top on the flybridge when working in close and personal with barges. The tow lockdown The absence of a ship's wheel was noted and is hard for old salts to get their head around. In its place are two toggle levers for port or starboard helm that may be used independently, giving the master a high level of manoeuverability at his fingertips. Up top is a Jabsco 24 volt DC searchlight plus a large air horn. Inside the wheelhouse, the electronics and aids to navigation suite, supplied and installed by Steelcom Electronics, includes a 6kW Furuno scanner linked to a 48-mile radar, a Furuno GPS, a Furuno 600 watt echo-sounder and an ICM 442 VHF marine radio for voice communications. The crew accommodation is immediately below and for'ard. The onboard heads and shower are very utilitarian and on dropping into the flat below the wheelhouse the head is to starboard. This has what looks like a retrofit sanitary system to meet the Australian Great Barrier Reef and coastal requirements for sewage treatment and disposal. Opposite is the shower compartment, with the head and shower having their own stainless steel basins. For'ard in the fo'c'sle is the crew accommodation incorporating the galley, dining area and four bunks. Aft through a watertight door is the main machinery space and engineroom. This is seriously large and it would be easy to forget you are only on a 15m tug. This is an engineer's dream space, with everything in its place and room to get round and service all the engines, even in a seaway. From the workbench to specialised tools, it's all here,