The newly commissioned tugboats. INSET: Nestor Percy Galley (5th from right), being assisted by his wife, Petrina Galley, and Alhassan Tampuli (4th from left), to cut the tape to commission the tugboat named after him. With them are Isaac Osei (3rd from right), Michael Luguje (3rd from left), Hajia Hamida Nuhu (2nd from left), board member; Sandar Opoku (left), Director of Tema Port, and other dignitaries. Picture: DELLA RUSSEL OCLOO

GPHA commissions 2 tugboats

Della Russel Ocloo Dec - 20 - 2023 , 05:05 3 minutes read

The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has commissioned two new tugboats to boost its fleet and improve vessel turnaround time at the port.

The Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) high-performance tugboats, each weighing 80 tonnes, are equipped with modern navigation technology, which officials said would boost port operations and also enhance safety and environmental efficiency.

Sourced from Damen Shipyards in Vietnam and powered by twin diesel engines, the boats provide a free-running speed typically 12 to 15 nautical miles per hour and offer escort for bigger vessels with a cargo capacity of 5,000 to 14,000 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs).

Tugboats are marine vessels specifically designed to guide larger vessels to their berths.

They also serve as vital players in emergency response and pollution control, ensuring the safety of the port.

They are equipped with firefighting systems, including pumps, monitors and firefighting foam, allowing them to respond to emergencies at sea.

They are also fitted with advanced technology with integrated navigation and communication systems, close circuit television (CCTV) and remote-control capabilities.

The newly commissioned tugboats

The tugboats were named after Group Capt Edward Alexander Awuviri (retd), the first Director-General of the authority who supervised the 1986 merger of the Ghana Ports Authority, the Ghana Cargo Holding Company and the Takoradi Literage Company.

The other is named after Nestor Percy Galley, who also served as Director-General from March 2009 to February 2012.

Relevance

A Deputy Minister of Transport, Alhassah Tampuli, said acquisition of the tugboats had become necessary to secure the movement of larger vessels that were hosted at the MPS Terminal Three facility.

He said the infrastructure investments at the ports were strategic to drive growth, guarantee safety and solidify the country’s regional maritime prominence.

“The government remains committed to infrastructural development and service improvement through policy and strategy implementation," Mr Tampuli added.

He commended GPHA for its continued commitment to innovation, including the deployment of modern crafts to meet the growing demand of the maritime industry, while strengthening the country’s position as a port of choice in the sub-region.

Large vessels

The Director-General of GPHA, Michael Luguje, said the ports continued to receive large container vessels and dry bulk which required advanced equipment.

He said the GPHA was investing heavily in cutting-edge equipment and personnel “and I am proud to say that these new tugboats are the first of their kind in any of the ports in the region, further showcasing our ambition to lead trade growth”, Mr Luguje said.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of GPHA, Isaac Osei, added that the "tugboats are not just vessels, but a testament to our unwavering dedication to positioning our ports as the preferred choice for regional trade".