Port Taranaki's $12 million new tug Kīnaki has been welcomed with a traditional water salute in New Plymouth.
Tugboat, Kīnaki, arriving in New Plymouth. Photo: RNZ/Robin Martin
Kīnaki left Lyttelton yesterday and was greeted this morning by the port's other tugs - Rupe, Tuakana, and the 47-year-old Kupe, which it is replacing.
Port Taranaki chief executive Guy Roper said Kīnaki's arrival represented the culmination of a three-year process from its commissioning through to its design, building and launch earlier this year.
A 25 metre in-harbour tractor tug, Kīnaki has propellers at the front allowing for better handling in Taranaki's notoriously rugged conditions.
Built at the Sanmar Shipyards, in Turkey, it is based on a design by Canadian Robert Allan.
Tugboat, Kīnaki, arriving in New Plymouth. Photo: RNZ/Robin Martin
Among her state-of-the-art features are Caterpillar engines, Rolls-Royce propellers and an electric towing winch by DMT.
Kīnaki has a bollard pull - the standard measure for pulling power of a watercraft - in excess of 60 tonnes, which is now the industry norm as vessels get larger.
In comparison, the Kupe has a bollard pull of just 28 tonnes.
Kīnaki was completed early this year and, after sea trials in Turkey, was loaded onto the heavy lift vessel MV Fairpartner at the end of March for her trip to New Zealand.
Kīnaki arrived at Lyttelton last month and since then has completed final commissioning checks.
