VESSEL REVIEW | Ocean Blue Mahoe – Compact, multi-role tug for Jamaica’s Kingston Port

VESSEL REVIEW | Ocean Blue Mahoe – Compact, multi-role tug for Jamaica’s Kingston Port

TUG AND SALVAGE WEEK
Best Small Harbour Tug – Ocean Blue Mahoe

Quebec-headquartered marine services provider the Ocean Group, through its Ocean Group Jamaica business unit, has taken delivery of a new ASD tug from the Eregli Shipyard of Turkish builder Med Marine. Designed by Canadian naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) in compliance to RINA class rules, the tug has been named Ocean Blue Mahoe after the national tree of Jamaica.

The newbuild will be used for ship handling, coastal towing, and general-purpose towing duties. It has an LOA of 25.2 metres, a beam of 12 metres, and a maximum draught of 5.75 metres.

Two Caterpillar 3516C main engines that each produce 2,100 kW at 1,600 rpm drive Kongsberg Maritime US 255S fixed-pitch, 2,600mm propellers to deliver a bollard pull of 75 tonnes and a speed of 12 knots. Box coolers are available for the engines.

Photo: Med Marine

The deck equipment includes a THR Marine towing winch with 300 KN of pull, a Data Hidrolik aft towing hook with quick release, and a THR Marine electric capstan. Cylinder, W, and D type heavy duty rubber is used for the fendering.

The tug relies on electronics that include a complete Furuno package consisting of a radar, a GPS, a satellite compass, an echosounder, a speed log, a navtex receiver, AIS, BNWAS, and MF/HF and VHF radios. Other electronics are a Jotron VHF and EPIRB, a Simrad autopilot, a Cassens and Plath magnetic compass, and a Phontech intercom system. Electrical power for all these systems is supplied by a Caterpillar C4.4 generator that produces 99 ekW at 1,500 rpm.

MLC-compliant, climate-controlled accommodations are available for a crew of seven. There are three single cabins – including one for the captain – and two double cabins. Heinen and Hopman supplied the AC systems in the accommodation spaces and in the wheelhouse.

The Jamaican-flagged Ocean Blue Mahoe will be operated out of its homeport of Kingston.

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Ocean Blue Mahoe
SPECIFICATIONS
Type of vessel: Harbour tug
Classification: RINA C  ✠HULL, ✠MACH, ✠ AUT-UMS, TUG, FIREFIGHTING  SHIP 1 WITH WATER SPRAY, UNRESTRICTED NAVIGATION, MLC DESIGN,  INWATERSURVEY
Port of registry: Kingston, Jamaica
Flag: Jamaica
Owner: Ocean Group, Canada
Operator: Ocean Group Jamaica
Designer: Robert Allan Ltd, Canada
Builder: Med Marine, Turkey
Length overall: 25.2 metres
Beam: 12 metres
Draught: 5.75 metres
Main engines: 2 x Caterpillar 3516C, each 2,100 kW at 1,600 rpm
Propulsion: 2 x Kongsberg Maritime US 255S fixed-pitch propellers
Generator: Caterpillar C4.4, 99 ekW at 1,500 rpm
Maximum speed: 12 knots
Bollard pull: 75 tonnes
Radar: Furuno
Depth sounder: Furuno
Radios: Furuno MF/HF; Furuno VHF; Jotron VHF
Autopilot: Simrad
Compasses: Furuno; Cassens and Plath
GPS: Furuno
AIS: Furuno
Alarm system: Furuno BNWAS
Other electronics: Furuno speedlog; Jotron EPIRB; Phontech intercom
Winch: THR Marine
Capstan: THR Marine
Other deck equipment: Data Hidrolik aft towing hook
Fendering: W type; D type
Other equipment installed: Box coolers; Heinen and Hopman AC
Accommodation: 3 x single cabins; 2 x double cabins
Crew: 7


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