E-NINE: Powering Iron Ore Operations in Sierra Leone

In 2024, EMAR Offshore Services expanded its fleet with the acquisition of the E-NINE, a Damen Shoalbuster anchor handling tug. With a rich history, impressive technical specifications, and recent modifications tailored for barge work, E-NINE is now hard at work in Sierra Leone.

The history of E-NINE (IMO 9548897)

Originally launched in 2010 at the Damen Hardinxveld-Giessendam shipyard in the Netherlands, E-NINE started life as the DMS Osprey. For a decade, she served under the Dutch flag with Damen Marine Services, supporting projects across Europe and beyond.

Between 2020 and 2024 she has been operating in the Caribbean. Four years later, in March 2024, the vessel was purchased by EMAR Offshore Services and reflagged to Cyprus, taking on her new name: E-NINE. This acquisition coincided with a full refit, including surveys, system overhauls, and a major conversion to prepare her for specialized barge operations in West Africa.

More than a decade after her launch, E-NINE has been given a new lease on life, entering EMAR’s fleet as a cornerstone asset for African offshore and port projects.

What is a Shoalbuster Tug?

The Damen Shoalbuster series is one of the most versatile workboat designs on the market. As the name suggests, these vessels are built for shallow waters (“shoals”), but with the power of a deep-sea tug.

Key features of the Shoalbuster design include:

• Shallow draft: Able to operate close to shore and in restricted waters.
  

• High bollard pull: Despite compact size, the design delivers up to 70 tonnes of bollard pull.
  

• Multi-role capability: Towing, anchor handling, pushing barges, buoy placement, dredging support, and firefighting.

• Robust equipment: Large winches, towing pins, stern rollers, and cranes for heavy-duty work.
  

In short, Shoalbusters are the “Swiss army knives” of offshore workboats – and E-NINE is no exception.

Technical Specifications of E-NINE

Propulsion and Power

• Engines: 2 × Caterpillar 3516B TA diesel engines, total 3,840 kW.
  

• Propulsion: Fixed pitch propellers in nozzles with Reintjes gearboxes.
  

• Bollard Pull: 70 tonnes.
  

• Speed: Service speed ~11.6 knots.
  

• Maneuvering: 400 hp bow thruster for high precision.
  

Winches and Deck Gear

• Anchor-handling winch: 100 t pull @ 5 m/min.
  

• Towing winch: 50 t pull @ 10 m/min.

• Stern roller: 5.0 × 0.98 m, SWL 100 t.
  

• Towing pins (Karm fork): SWL 160 t.
  

• Deck crane: Heila 170-4S-L, 18.2 t at 8 m outreach.
  

• Firefighting: 2 × FiFi monitors, 1,200 m³/hr pump.

These specifications make E-NINE a heavy-duty yet flexible tug, capable of both ocean towage and delicate barge positioning in coastal areas.

Conversion for Barge Operations in Sierra Leone

Why the Conversion Was Needed

Sierra Leone is a significant exporter of iron ore. However, ports like Pepel and the shallow waters around Freetown present challenges for loading bulk carriers directly at the quay. Instead, floating cranes and barges are used to shuttle ore from shore facilities to waiting ocean-going vessels offshore.

To play a central role in this logistics chain, E-NINE required modifications. In mid-2024, EMAR carried out a major refit that included fitting a heavy-duty push fender on the bow. This allows the tug to safely push against barges and floating cranes without risking hull damage.

What the Push Fender Does

The push fender transforms E-NINE from a traditional anchor-handling tug into a dual-role vessel:

• Towing: Long-distance ocean towage of cranes and barges.
  

• Pushing: Close-contact maneuvering and barge shuttling in port and coastal waters.
  

By combining these roles, E-NINE becomes far more valuable to clients requiring both long-haul transport and precise barge positioning in shallow waters.

The Current Project: Iron Ore Shuttle Operations

In June 2024, E-NINE departed Rotterdam towing a massive floating crane to Sierra Leone. This crane was delivered to Freetown in July.

Once in Sierra Leone, E-NINE’s role expanded together with sister ship E-THREE and the Polen:

• Barge Assistance: Pushing and maneuvering ore barges alongside the floating crane.
  

• Towage: Moving barges between Pepel and offshore loading points.

Why E-NINE Stands Out

Several factors make E-NINE particularly versatile:

1. Power and Endurance: With 70 tonnes of bollard pull and large fuel capacity, she can tow heavy units over long distances.
   

2. Adaptability: The push fender and shallow draft make her ideal for Sierra Leone’s coastal environment.
   

3. Reliability: Damen Shoalbusters are known for robust construction and long service life.
   

4. Modern Connectivity: With systems like Starlink onboard, crews maintain real-time communication – a vital asset for remote operations.
   

Looking Ahead

Whether it’s towing heavy equipment across oceans, supporting dredging works, or pushing barges loaded with iron ore, E-NINE represents the type of flexible, multi-role vessel that modern offshore and port operations demand.

From her origins as DMS Osprey in 2010 to her transformation into E-NINE in 2024, this Shoalbuster tug has proven her adaptability. Today, she is not just another tugboat – she is a critical asset supporting Sierra Leone’s iron ore industry.