An Egyptian shipyard has expanded its tug building experience by producing its first RAstar escort and terminal support tugboat for the Egyptian Navy
Alexandria Shipyard has delivered Ras Alhekma to the nation’s navalforces as the first of a series of five vessels being built at the yard to Robert AllanLtd’s RAstar 3200-W design.
This 33–m vessel was constructed to escort, handle and support naval ships at one of Egyptian Navy’s terminals. It has a sponsoned hull form developed by Robert Allan to enhance escort towing and seakeeping performance.
Ras Alhekma has a moulded beam of 13 m, a moulded depth of around 5 m and in sea trials it achieved 86tonnes of bollard pull and a top speed of 14 knots, which Robert Allan said surpassed the owner’s performance requirements for this design.
It is classed by Bureau Veritas with notations for ship escort,operations in coastal waters and a fire-fightingcapability to FiFi1 with a water-spray system.
This 498-gt tug has tank capacities to store 208 m3 of fuel oil and 31 m3 of potable water, and has low noise levelsdue to treatments designed by Robert Allanand applied by the shipyard.
Alexandria Shipyard, on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, is one of the biggest shipyards in Africa and has previously built tugboats for the Egyptian Navy and the Suez Canal Authority.
Video of Ras Alhekma during sea trials
