Med Marine Delivers New Tug to Kenya Port Authority
Kenya Port Authority's new tug, Mwokozi II, was delivered to her home port of Mombasa on January 10, 2022.
The Mwokozi II is a custom design 42-meter, 120 tonne bollard pull RAstar 4200 salvage and harbor tug developed by Robert Allan Ltd., with particularly outstanding performance in maneuvering, seakeeping, and stability.
The Turkish shipbuilder Med Marine was contracted to build the new tugboat at its group owned Eregli Shipyard. The keel was laid on March 23, 2020, and construction was completed in November 2021.
The vessel is designed to operate in East Africa and Indian Ocean regions and can undertake international salvage and towage operations involving very large vessels.
The establishment of the IMO, Regional Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre, within the Mombasa Port, prompted the management to recognize the need of having a sea going vessel with the capacity to perform salvage and successful search and rescue operations. The Kenya Ports Authority Managing Director approved the procurement of a newbuilt Salvage Tugboat christened Mwokozi II.
The name Mwokozi, means savior and signifies the important role that the vessel will play for its owner. In recent years, the incidences of ships grounding in the Indian Ocean within Kenyan Territorial waters are becoming more and more common. Within the Eastern and Northern seaports, there isn't a country with the capacity to mount a proper sea salvage and search and rescue operation. The salvage operations will create a new revenue stream for the Kenya Port Authority and enhance their corporate image as a leading port along Western Indian Ocean Seaboard.
Key particulars of the Mwokozi II are:
- Length, overall: 42 m
- Beam, molded: 16 m
- Depth, least molded: 6.4 m
- Maximum draft (navigational): 7.2 m
- Gross Tonnage: 1024
The Mwokozi II was constructed to RINA rules with the following notation: RINA C ✠ TUG, AUT-UMS, FIRE FIGHTING SHIP 1 WITH WATER SPRAYING, IN WATER SURVEY, UNRESTRICTED NAVIGATION.
The vessel is SOLAS compliant for Gross Tonnage of > 1000.Accommodations are outfitted to high, MLC compliant standards for a crew of up to 18 personnel. The Master, Chief Engineer and Owner cabins are located on the main deck with eight double crew cabins located in the lower accommodations.
Main propulsion comprises a pair of CAT C280-12 diesel engines, each rated at 3700 kW at 1000 rpm, and each driving a Schottel SRP 710 Fixed Pitch, 3.4 metre propeller Z-drive. The vessel is equipped with a Schottel tunnel thruster at the bow for enhanced maneuverability. The electrical plant comprises two (2) identical Caterpillar C 9.3 diesel gen-sets each with a power output of 200 ekW.
On the foredeck is a MacGregor MG HAT/GDG-30-1230U02272x2 hydraulically driven, split drum, towing winch accommodating 2 x 220 metres of 72 mm diameter synthetic rope and fitted with double gypsies and warping heads. The winch is equipped with a length and tension monitoring system with load indicating display in the wheelhouse.
On the aft deck, there is a MacGregor MG-HTWW-1232D10064 hydraulically driven towing winch, accommodating 1000 m of 64 mm diameter steel wire rope and a MacGregor hydraulic combined shark jaws and towing pins package.
The Mwokozi II is equipped with an off-ship fire-fighting system meeting class Fire Fighting Ship 1 requirements with water spray. The system was supplied by Fire Fighting Systems and comprises two main engine driven centrifugal pump type FFS SFP 250 x 350 XPH. The two monitors deliver 1200 m3/hour of water and 300 m3/hour of foam.
Ship handling fenders at the bow consist of upper cylindrical fender and lower "W" block fendering below. "D" fendering provides protection at the sheer line, and cylindrical fender is used at the stern.
On trials, the Mwokozi II achieved 126 tonnes bollard pull and 14.7 knots free running speed, ahead.
