474 February 2008

Beside the Mahakam River

1&2. The tug Syarasd I nearing completion on the banks of the Mahakam River in East Kalimantan.  Alan Haig-Brown/Cummins photos

McGinnis Inc. of South Point, Ohio at Mile 318 on the Ohio River delivered a new towboat to sister company Excel Marine Corp. of Cincinnati Ohio with a christening ceremony at Ashland Kentucky on January 26 2008. The 75 by 27-foot boat is the first new build for McGinnis in over 20 years.

According to a report in the Ashland Daily Independent, the new vessel was named in honor of James Allen Ward III who has worked for McGinnis since 1978 and “oversaw the construction of the $3.5 million vessel.”

One of the world’s least known boat building areas is in and around the city of Samarinda on the Mahakam River in the province of East Kalimantan on the Indonesian side of the Island of Borneo. While some yards are building a dozen and more boats at a time in modern facilities, the tradition of building on the riverbank is alive and well. One such builder is Mr. Suwandi who, in mid-February, was preparing to launch a 28 by 8.1-meter tug for Mr. Syarifuddin who operates a stone quary at Palu on Sulawesi Island.

The tug, registered in Samarinda and named Syarasd I, is powered by a pair of in-line six-cylinder Cummins KTA19 engines each generating 600 hp and turning propellers manufactured by Tesco in Jakarta through Twin Disc MG5321DC gears with 6.39:1 ratios. Pt. Altrak 1978, the Cummins distributor for Indonesia, supplied the engines.

Although the tug is expected to work in deeper waters guards that, the builder explained, add strength and protection from logs are fitted to the 1.75-meter inside-diameter nozzles.

For more information:

Harry Tirto
Manager, Branch Head
Pr. Altrak 1978
Jl. Ciptomangunkusumo Rt.
14 Loajanan Ilir
Samarinda
Phone (0541) 260838, 260836
e-mail: harry.tirto@smd.altrak1978.co.id
web: www.altrak1978.co.id

Ir. Abdul Muis Sikki, Nav. Arch.
Manager, Engine Dept. Head
Pt. Altrak 1978
Ji Rsc. Veteran No. 4,
Bintaro,
Jakarta 12330
Phone: (021) 736 1978
E-mail: abdul.muis@altrak1978.co.id
Web: www.altrak1978.co.id

M. (Mike) Hanipah Akbar
Manager, Regional Sales
Cummins Diesel Sales Corporation
8 Tanjong Penjuru
Singapore 609019
Phone: +65 6365 0155
Mobile: +65 9737 6488
E-mail: mike.hanipah@cummins.com
Web: www.cummins.com

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