NEW Zealand’s Port Marlborough welcomed a new tug into Picton Harbour on Wednesday (17 July).
Port Marlborough ordered the custom-built tug Kaiana last year, signing a contract with Damen Shipyards in September.
Kaiana was the first brand new tug to be purchased for Port Marlborough’s towage fleet, to operate at Picton – the South Island port on the Cook Strait ferry route.
Damen said in September that the new ASD 2111 tug would be able to handle the new, larger Interislander ferries anticipated under the iRex project, which the NZ government called off earlier this year.
Port Marlborough still expects its new tug to “provide further resilience” to the port’s marine fleet and harbour towage capabilities.
The vessel is an azimuth stern drive (ASD) tug, measuring 21 metres in length, and with a bollard pull of 50 tonnes.
The tug has a twin fin skeg and azimuth thrusters, which Port Marlborough expects will ensure “excellent manoeuvrability”.
“Port Marlborough has opted to upgrade the engines from the standard IMO Tier II compliance to IMO Tier III compliance, further reducing emissions,” it said.
“Additional green technologies integrated into Kaiana also include a new electric power generation system that harnesses power from the main engines, helping to lower fuel consumption and emissions.”
Port Marlborough’s marine team was to welcome the new vessel into Picton aboard the tugs Monowai and Maungatea, with a traditional Māori karanga and karakia (a welcoming call and prayer) led by Te Ātiawa iwi representatives from the tug berth.
“We are planning a more formal welcoming ceremony for our teams and invited guests from the community, when all the necessary safety checks and trials are complete,” Port Marlborough said.
