Shilala
Built by the Corpach Boatbuilding Company, the MV Shilala, was shipped to the Middle East having successfully completed extensive sea trials after launching at Corpach in October 1995.
The Specification called for a double ended vessel capable of loading from a concrete ramp or a sand beach. The vessel was to be simple to operate with a small crew and to be built to a high standard. The immediate problem was how to propel such a vessel which required shallow draft at both ends. In consultation with the yard, Alasdair Salmon and Kort Propulsion of Essex, an all hydraulic propulsion system was devised using two Vickers piston pumps in tandem driven directly by the 300 h.p. Scania diesel to power the two propulsion units derated to about 100 h.p. each, together with the 30 h.p. bow thruster, and the bow and stern ramps which each require about 6 h.p.. Three Danfoss proportional valves receive all the output from the two pumps, provide a feedback signal into the pumps to control their output to the level required, and meter the hydraulic fluid to the five services according to the control inputs received from the wheelhouse. The complex engineering required to achieve this is hidden in a small number of integrated assemblies, some of which have been specially designed and manufactured for this application, resulting in a simple layout and minimum pipework.
Norman Parsons of Kort Propulsion said ‘There has been a very close working relatinship between Kort, Corpach Boatbuilders, Chris Stacey and Alasdair Salmon and the overall installation and attention to detail by everyone concerned has resulted in a first class installation. In our experience of working with many shipyards in the UK and overseas, Corpach Boatbuilding have created a unique vessel to very high standards of workmanship which should give the owner reliable service.’
On completion of sea trials at Corpach, the Shilala embarked on a 5 day delivery trip to Hull for onward shipment to a client in the Middle East. Managing Director at Corpach Boatbuilding, Donald Hind personally undertook the delivery of the vessel, assisted by a crew of two from the boatyard’s workforce.
