GPHA Gets New Tugboats

IN BID to improve efficiency at the country's ports, Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA) has taken delivery of two new tugboats to augment its marine operations.

The boats valued at €14.2 million and fitted with state-of-the-art equipment were manufactured in Romania by Damen Shipyard, a Holland vessel manufacturing company.

Named after Commander Keith Dadzie and John Adu, former workers of GPHA, each of the boats has  two 3,730 kilowatts electronic engines, 8 cabins, 1 fire fighting machine, 2 generators, oil bum system to absorb oil spillage and a speed of over 8.5 knots.

The tugboats which were said could turn 360 degrees at the same spot and equipped to fight marine fires from a distance would be stationed at the Tema and Takoradi ports.

Mr. John Adorkor, Director of Tema Port who briefed journalists during the handing over ceremony on Sunday at the Tema Port expressed his optimism that the presence of the new tugboats will improve efficiency and operation at the ports.

According to him, the vessels will improve business at the ports and will reduce the turnaround time, especially when bigger vessels as long as 300 metres, with drafts between 14 and 16 metres are expected to dock at the Tema Port after the expansion.

He noted that the marine crafts procured will help the ports meet the challenges that would confront them, especially with the Tema Port expansion where tugboats would be needed to navigate big vessels.

Beside the addition of the new boats to their fleet of marine craft, Mr. Adorkor said GHPA will continue to invest in the port to improve efficiency.

Commander Stephen Seidu, Port Marine Engineer, on his part assured that his outfit has put in place a maintenance programme to ensure that the tugboats last more than their anticipated 20 years lifespan.

According to him, pilots, engineers and operators of the tugboats had been trained by the manufacturers of the boats outside the country as part of the purchase deal in order to ensure their smooth usage and maintenance.

From Vincent Kubi, Tema