The build process started in August 2017 with the first steel being cut for the vessel. The entire construction and outfitting of the vessel was supervised by Macduff Ship Design with the owners being kept updated regularly as to the vessel’s progress. ‘Acamar’ is constructed entirely from steel to a hard-chine hullform with a box skeg and Kort propulsion supply KT30 bow thruster. The final touches were completed on the vessel in July 2018 with delivery being achieved in early September. The design, inspired by the popular ‘Eileen Mcloughlin’ hull, was customised to suit Shoreham Port’s busy operations schedule and narrowed in order to fit through lock gates. The unusual but aptly named ‘Acamar’, which derives from an Arabic phrase meaning ‘end of the river’, complements Shoreham’s existing vessel ‘Adurni’ by adding extra capability to the Shoreham fleet.
The tug is equipped with everything that a busy commercial port requires. A Mampaey tow hook provides 150kN of capacity whilst the vessel achieved a bollard pull is 10 tonnes and free running speed of 10 knots on trials. An aft lifting gantry and 7 tonne winch provides plough-dredging capability. As well as dredging, the vessel’s other duties will include towing, pushing, surveying and lifting which is carried out with A Cormach 8700 E4 Marine Deck crane.
Below deck, Doosan V158 engines providing 480HP at 1800rpm are flexibly coupled to Twin Disc gearboxes with a reduction ratio of 6.10:1. The 1.7m twin propellers are driven through Kort nozzles. Above deck the vessel is fitted with an external fi-fi-monitor and pump, and the wheelhouse is fitted with the latest equipment such as Furuno electronics as well as a high precision GPS for carrying out survey work.
Macduff Ship Design is pleased to have had the opportunity to work with Shoreham Port on this project and at present is being kept busy with a full order book of new and repeat designs for owners both in the UK and abroad.
