Page 65: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2011)

ROBERT ALLAN LTD. IN MANAUS There are probably more Robert Allan- designed ship docking tugs under con-struction worldwide than any other design. So it is not surprising to see oneunder construction at the Estaleiros RioNegro Ltda. (ERIN Shipyard) in Manaus, Brazil. It is undoubtedly the only Ram-pat 2400 being built in a yard 1000 miles from the sea. But then Manaus, like so much of contemporary Brazil demandssuperlatives for accuracy. The first of three Rampart 2400 ship docking tugs under construction at theyard is showing the distinctive Robert Allan Ltd. lines. From the fine underwa- ter taper on the stern that allows remark- able bollard pull when working a line off the bow to the well-proportioned deck and wheelhouses. This is a profile familiar in a growing number of the world?s major ports. The smaller version of the Rampart design will be handling ships loading soybean at the Itacoatiara Port for Hermosa Logis-tics some 260 km downriver from Man- aus. While the maximum length of ship to be handled at the berth is limited to255 meters, there is typically a four-knot current at the berth. This could all make for tricky landings, but ships are provided with an experienced mooring master for the occasion. Each of the tugs will be powered by a pair of Tier 2, Cummins QSK38-M en- gines producing 1400 HP at 1800 RPMeach and turning Rolls Royce US155 model azimuth drives. Once in service these boats will do much to ease a chal-lenging docking situation.November 2011www.marinelink.com 65RAL Design under construction at theEstaleiros Rio Negro Ltda. (ERIN Ship- yard) in Manaus, Brazil. (Haig-Brown photos courtesy of Cummins Marine) MR Nov.11 # 8 (57-64):MR Template 11/2/2011 1:49 PM Page 65