475 February 2008

Lightering Indonesian Coal

1&2. The Tanair IX moored on the Samarinda waterfront (above) while Cummins manager Mike Hanipah checks out the installation of the KTA38 main engines. (below). Alan Haig-Brown/Cummins photos

Passing the town of Samarinda, just above the deltas and about 30 kilometers up river from the sea, a steady parade of tugs towing barges are moving thousands of tons of coal from several large mines further up the river. Some of these tow barge loads of coal to neighboring Southeast Asian nations while others take to coal barges out of the river and alongside deep-sea vessels for transport to more distant markets.

Mr. Johnny Tanair of Surabya has recently taken delivery of a new boat, the Tanair IX, which will join other tugs that he already has on lease to companies moving coal out of the river to be lightered aboard deep-sea ships. With over 80 kilometers of navigable river above Samarinda, a boat building industry developed in Samarinda to meet the needs of the logging companies. Now, with a declining forest industry, a large part of new construction is related to the coal industry.

The wheelhouse of the Tanair IX awaits the electronics to be installed by the owner. Alan Haig-Brown/Cummins photos

The MV Tanair IX is 39.5x8.6 meters. The stalwart tug is powered by a pair of1200 hp V-12 Cummins KTA 38 engines turning 1.98-meter propellers in 2-meter nozzles through Twin Disc MG5321DC gears with 6.39:1 gears. As with the tug Syarasd I, Mr. Suwandi built the Tanair IX, under contract using owner-supplied materials.

A tug tows a loaded coal barge down the Mahakam River past the city of Samarinda. Alan Haig-Brown/Cummins photo

For further 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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