The deal for Eastland Port’s new $10 million tug has been signed. The new tug will be made by Damen Shipyards and will be known as the Waimata. It replaces the 36-year-old tug Turihaua.
It will be built in Vietnam and is expected to be completed and delivered by August next year. The Waimata will be a much stronger tug, with a bollard pull of 65 tonnes and displacing 400 tonnes compared to 14 tonnes and 100 tonnes displacement.
Eastland Port marine manager Charlie Jamieson says the past few years have seen a huge increase in ship size, particularly logging vessels coming into the port. “ Six or so years ago we were getting the 160 m to 170 m vessels with a beam of 27.5 m and dead weight of around 28,000 tonnes . Now we are getting vessels that are 190 m long, with a beam of 32.5 m and a dead weight of 36,000 tonnes and that’s unloaded. With a full load, they are over 50,000 tonnes. That’s a dramatic increase for little extra size. ”
Eastland Group chief executive Matt Todd said it was an important investment not just for the port, but the wider region. “ It underscores our willingness and commitment to invest and improve in the operating, efficiency and safety of the port. This is an important asset for the port, forestry and region. ”
The extra bollard pull of The Waimata offered the port and its workers a greater safety margin for handling these vessels in what is considered to be a very restricted area.
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Source: Holland Shipbuilding, June 17, 2013