Perkins Sabre power for new crew boat.

A NEW CREW boat operated by Mombasa-based Alba Petroleum has been powered with a pair of Perkins Sabre M215C turbocharged and charge air cooled engines. Destined to operate out of the port of Maputo, Joey, a 17m steel-hulled support vessel, was built by Alba Petroleum's subsidiary, African Marine & General Engineering Co. The 215hp engines are coupled to Hurth ZF 63A gearboxes to provide the boat with a top speed of 15 knots. This, according to Oscar Lobo, Alba Petroleum's Senior Marine Superintendent, more than meets the company's operational requirements. The boat will be used for approximately 36 hours a week in Maputo, ferrying replacement crew and essential supplies between the harbour and ships off the east coast. There is also the firm prospect of occasional hire for use as a police patrol boat.

Alba Petroleum provides bunkering, transport and ship chandelling services on several long-term contracts with Far Eastern fishing fleets trawling the Indian Ocean. Its support vessels also service the company's own oil tankers and oil barges that operate off Kenya, the Comoros Islands, Mozambique and Madagascar. So reliability was a major consideration when selecting Joey's power.

"We decided on the M215C because we have had 13 years experience of Perkins Sabre reliability on another of our boats," commented Oscar Lobo. "We have also enjoyed ready availability of spares and excellent technical support" The engines were supplied by the South African distributor, Barloworld Equipment Energy-Perkins.

www.perkins-sabre.com