New Workboat/Tug Enters Waterways Ireland Fleet
Inishfendra, a 11.2m long, 3.8m beam multi-purpose workboat/tug has been delivered to Waterways Ireland by road from Killybegs and launched on the Shannon Erne Waterway at Ballyconnell.
Specially designed for operation on inland waterways, the Inishfendra has a shallow draught, a new design of wheelhouse and a new ballast tank system has been incorporated to facilitate passage through the low headroom bridges on the Shannon Erne Waterway.
Designed as a multi-purpose workboat/tug, the Inishfendra is equipped with a 185hp Perkins M 185 main engine and Quick-shift Twin Disc gearbox,13 kVA Cummins Generator, Guerra deck crane and man access basket, hydraulic bow thruster and a suite of electronic equipment including chart-plotter, radar and radio equipment. Environmentally friendly sealed tube coolers are used on both the main engine and generator. The substantial tube cooler supplied by Klima for the main engine is designed to enable the boat to operate at maximum power when travelling against the strong winter flows encountered on the waterways.
The Inishfendra is a further addition to a fleet of more than 60 boats owned and operated by Waterways Ireland staff in the management and maintenance of the waterways under its remit. The name Inishfendra comes from an island located near where the Erne System and the Shannon Erne Waterway meet.
The Inishfendra was designed and built to Waterways Irelands specification by Mooney Boats of Killybegs and their naval architects, Marine Design International. The vessel is constructed and certified to the meet the regulatory requirements of the Marine Survey Office (Dept of Transport).
