VESSEL REVIEW | Amman Khatulistiwa 01 – Versatile mooring boats to serve Indonesia's Benete Port
Indonesia-based copper and gold mining company Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara (AMNT) recently took delivery of two new mooring boats in a series built locally by Dumas Tanjung Perak Shipyards.
The Lloyd's Register-classed Amman Khatulistiwa 01 and Amman Khatulistiwa 02 were both designed by Canadian naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) for operation at the Port of Benete in Indonesia's West Nusa Tenggara Province. The newbuilds will mainly be used for handling mooring lines for large LNG carriers. Additionally, they are equipped to perform line towing, pushing, and oil spill recovery.
Simple construction promising durability and comfort
The new AMNT mooring boats each have an LOA of 13.86 metres (45.47 feet), a moulded beam of 5.5 metres (18 feet), a moulded depth of 2.2 metres (7.2 feet), a maximum draught of 1.72 metres (5.64 feet), space for two crewmembers, and two Caterpillar C7 diesel engines each rated 209 kW (280 hp) at 2,300 rpm.
The engines drive Kort 900mm Kaplan propellers to deliver a service speed of just over 10 knots and a bollard pull of 6.39 tonnes. RAL said that, during sea trials, the vessels easily exceeded the required performance standards.
Tank capacities are 3.8 cubic metres (130 cubic feet) for fuel oil, 0.6 cubic metre (21 cubic feet) for potable water, 1.8 cubic metres (64 cubic feet) for chemical dispersant for use in response to oil spills, and 4.4 cubic metres (160 cubic feet) for recovered oil.
Each mooring boat is configured as a dayboat for two people. Inside the compact wheelhouse, a small pantry and dinette seating are provided.
The lower accommodation has two berths and a toilet along with considerable storage. Access to the engine room is through a watertight door from this space.
Each vessel has a single chine hull form for maximum roll damping, which also simplifies construction. A rope guard cage protects the wheelhouse.
Multi-role vessels for port operations
Aft, the bulwarks are lower to prevent fouling by towlines, while the mast and radar can be folded prone to reduce air clearance underneath the flared hull of larger ships.
For light towing, each mooring boat can use a forward towing bitt or an aft bitt with towing hook as well as bow pushing fenders.
During oil recovery operations, a skimmer can be deployed on the aft deck where a clear three- by three-metre (10- by 10-foot) space is available for recovery equipment. A crane is provided to deploy this equipment and for general cargo use.
A single generator on each boat provides 220V AC power. Large battery banks charged by a generator or main engine alternators provide DC power supply for essential loads such as navigation equipment, communication, lighting, engine room pumps and the deck machinery.
Wet exhausts are meanwhile used for main engines and the generator.
