The Aziz Chronicles

A extended account of my build of the Aziz

Photo and details courtesy of The Model Slipway

A Radio Controlled Model - from The Model Slipway
A twin screw representative model of an anchor handling tug/supply vessel
based on Aziz and Arif as delivered to Prince Offshore, Sharjah in 1983.

Model specifications:
Scale 1:50
Length o/a:  1105mm  (43½")
Beam o/a:  248mm  (9¾")
Displacement: approx. 13.5 Kg (30 lb)

Built for worldwide operations to service and tow drilling units, and support production platforms Aziz and her sister ship Arif were two of six AHTS vessels with fire fighting equipment operated by Prince Offshore, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, in the summer of 1983. Classed ABS+A1(E)+AMS the vessels were powered by two diesel engines, total maximum BHP 4200 at 600 rpm, with fixed pitch propellers running in Kort nozzles. Maximum bollard pull: 52 tons.

The main feature of their deck machinery is a 120 t. double-drum Waterfall type tow/anchor handling winch, diesel driven. One of the drums holds 730m of 50mm dia. towing wire that can be reeled in and out remotely from the wheelhouse. Additional towing wire is available as a spare on a separate reel. Two 3.1-ton capacity tugger winches are fitted behind the superstructure one on each side of the cargo deck and a 6-ton electro-hydraulic deck crane is located on the boat deck for cargo handling. The wheelhouse is designed to incorporate maximum visibility all around with dual controls for the main engines, steering gear and bow-thruster units. A second control station at the aft end of the wheelhouse incorporates remote control of towing/anchor handling winch. Each vessel is fully air-conditioned for hot and cold climates and berths are provided for 11 crew and 12 passengers.

The Complete Kit includes:

• A high-quality detailed glassfibre hull.
• Propshafts and tubes, rudders, propellers, fixed Kort nozzles; a bow-thruster tube (working bow-thruster not supplied).
• Accurate CNC-milled and printed plastic styrene for decks, superstructure and wheelhouse; printed wood deck overlay.
• Moulded styrene dinghy, liferaft canisters and stern roller.
• Metal kits for the large waterfall winch, the tugger winches, anchor windlass and deck crane.
• over 600 cast alloy fittings and etched brass components for the fine detail finish including brass handrail stanchions.
• All necessary rubber tyres, fendering, wire, rod, dowel, chain.
• A sheet of 30+ waterslide transfers for the vessel names Aziz and Arif, depth markings, fire boxes, liferaft canisters etc.
• Three full-size plans. Excellent building instructions with numerous step-by-step assembly drawings of the highest standard by Dave Milbourn.

Additional Items are required for Radio Control Operation.
See Logs / Additional Parts