The Egyptian Navy has taken delivery of its new terminal support and escort tug Ras Alhekma in Alexandria, Egypt. The vessel is the first of a series of five new tugs designed by Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) and built by Alexandria Shipyard.
The 32.7-metre tug features a sponsoned hull form developed by the designer to enhance escort towing and seakeeping performance. The vessel has a beam of 13.2 metres, a gross tonnage of 498, and is classed by Bureau Veritas with notations for Escort Tug and Fire Fighting 1.
During sea trials, RAL said the tug surpassed its performance requirements, achieving a bollard pull of 86 tonnes and a speed of 14.1 knots. The designer noted that the vessel also received "positive" feedback for its "low noise levels." Alexandria Shipyard carried out the production design for the vessel by its own technical team.
The tug is named Ras Alhekma after a coastal region on Egypt’s Mediterranean shoreline.