VESSEL REVIEW | Sora 1 – Durable supply vessel built for the Arabian Gulf

Singapore shipbuilder Lita Ocean has delivered a new supply crewboat to Sora Marine Services, an offshore support provider based in Doha, Qatar.

Designed by Jenjosh Marine Design of Singapore, the Bureau Veritas-classed Sora 1 will be deployed to support Sora Marine’s current operations with capacity for 27 passengers/technicians and up to 20 tonnes of deck cargo. Its main area of operations is the Arabian Gulf, particularly the waters of Ras Laffan Port located 80 kilometres north of Doha.

“The new boat will provide logistics services in the Ras Laffan Port inner and outer anchorage limits,” Gamal Abdelhamid, Sora Marine General Manager, told Baird Maritime. “Its duties include crew transfers, supply, spare parts delivery, reefer container delivery, and domestic waste collection from vessels calling at the port.”

Abdelhamid added that the vessel is tailor-made to meet Sora Marine clients’ requirements, especially the needs of LNG carriers that call at Ras Laffan Port. This facility is notable for being one of the biggest LNG export terminals in the world.

The aluminium crewboat has an LOA of 23.5 metres, a beam of 6.2 metres, a maximum draught of 1.15 metres, and a crew complement of six. Two Cummins KTA 19 engines that each produce 447 kW at 1,800 rpm drive conventional propellers via ZF 2050 gearboxes to enable the vessel to reach a top speed of 18 knots and a cruising speed of 16 knots.

Up to 20 cargo pallets can be carried on the large 50-square-metre deck, which features plugs for up to two reefer containers. Business class seating is available for the 27 passengers/technicians, who also have access to USB charging ports for mobile devices.

“A diving ladder is fitted to enable the vessel to support diving operations,” added Abdelhamid.

The electronics suite includes an Icom VHF radio and a radar, AIS, GPS, and displays supplied by Simrad. These and other systems draw power from Cummins 27kW and 50kW generators.

Sora 1 is also equipped for firefighting with engine- and electrically-driven pumps, two monitors, and eight nine-kilogram dry powder tanks. Two liferafts are also fitted should evacuation become necessary.

The crew accommodation spaces consist of a pantry, a mess, and a toilet.

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