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
Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/48969
Heading for deeper water Installing one of the main engines May 2009 with construction starting shortly after. Timing and commercial competitiveness when purchasing key components like engines, gensets and other machinery, including winches, all helped to keep the budget on track. The hull is plated in a range of steel thicknesses from 18mm to 25mm, with 10mm enclosed bulwarks. The void inside the bulwarks has been painted and sealed to give clean lines around the deck and eliminate a sailor's painting nightmare. As with all of these types of tugs, the machinery had to go in before she was closed in, which meant some serious bits were installed while the rest was still being built. These same bits had to look brand new some 12 or so months later when the tug was commissioned after the rest of the main machinery space had been fitted out and the topsides locked on. It was not a case of cutting a hole through the side, because tankage and other machinery tends to lock things in. This is one of the key reasons why owners must look carefully at the power plants when building, as will the engine manufacturers. To get a "Friday-itis" engine would be a major in these situations, so the pressure was on to ensure everything was right. Our first impression as we step aboard Te Mata is that at 24m long she is some ship, especially when her beam is the thick end of 11m. Granted the deckhouse is imposing, but even with this, access around the vessel is easy, with clear waists on either side. 22 Professional Skipper November/December 2011 On the foredeck we note the missing anchor winch, as the cable rides over the ship's head and roller lead to a standing structure, with another roller and safety retaining claw before it disappears down the (spurling) naval pipe. At this point the cable and pipe is sealed with expanding foam, and we make a note to investigate this further. Down aft, the large EMS HTW-SD-30 180 tonne winch, loaded with a plaited Samson 64mm Neutron 8 towline with a breaking strain of 220 tonnes, dominates the deck space. Ahead of the main winch, the main ventilation trunks form small aft wings on the deckhouse, with the main air intakes protected by Seaworth Defense water-separating grills facing inboard. Access to the accommodation is via the aft watertight door from this area off the main deck. The three cabins, laundry, heads and shower, galley and mess all come off the main central flat, as do the access ladders up to the wheelhouse and down to the main machinery space. She is designed to operate with a crew of two within the port, but can accommodate a sea-going crew of five in three cabins. The galley is impressive for a vessel of this size, with a separate mess room providing all the live-aboard comforts of home. It is finished in functional stainless steel with a main service and preparation bench incorporating a large wash tub. There is ample stowage under the bench, and the galley is easy to keep clean and tidy, as there is a large, separate pantry to hand. The electric hobs, with a microwave below and an electric oven overhead, are more than capable of providing the cooking needs. Also on the ample bench is space for a toaster, a crockpot and an electric frypan when required. The main refrigerator and freezer are also close by and there is another large freezer in the laundry/store. We step down the ladder to enter the main machinery space and find it has every bit of shipboard stuff you would expect on a larger vessel. The space is dominated by the two Voith propulsion units, coupled through a massive drive coupling to the pair of 2040kW Wartsila main engines. Other features of note in the machinery space are the main switch panels, the large hydraulic pack aft and the two Caterpillar 93kW C4.4 gensets. The remaining space contains the transfer pumps and various tanks, with fuel, fire and bilge valve chests. For'ard of the Voith units, a watertight door leads us into the foc's'cle compartment containing the engineer's workshop to