Yong Gang Xiao Tuo 60 is the first Robert Allan-designed dual-fuel tug to operate in China
Ningbo Zhoushan Port in China took a bold step when it ordered a large dual-fuel tug for port and coastal towage services. This gamble paid off when a Chinese shipbuilder delivered Yong Gang Xiao Tuo 60 with an LNG fuel system at the beginning of this year.
Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard built the 750-gt tug to a Robert Allan design with dual-fuel main engines providing power to controllable pitch (CP) Z-drives.
It is the first Robert Allan-designed dual-fuel tug to operate in China. It is a RAstar 3800-DF design tug with China Classification Society notation for port and coastal operations and for firefighting.
Robert Allan says its overall length, including fenders, is 38.0 m and moulded beam is 13.5 m. Yong Gang Xiao Tuo 60’s hull depth at its least moulded point is 5.8 m and its maximum navigational draught is 5.53 m.
Its propulsion consists of a pair of Niigata 8L28AHX-DF main engines, each rated for 2,389 kW of power at 800 rpm. These drive Kongsberg US 255 CP thrusters with 2.8-m diameter propellers.
Yong Gang Xiao Tuo 60 has a top speed of 13.5 knots and bollard pull ahead of 80.3 tonnes as certified during the tug’s sea trials in December 2019.
Gas fuel for the main engines comes from the storage tank on the deck. Gloryholder Liquefied Gas Machinery supplied the fuel gas system and LNG tank with gross capacity of 55 m³. Robert Allan says this capacity is suitable for a tug transit range of more than 700 nautical miles in gas mode. This can be supplemented by an additional range of nearly 1,700 nautical miles when the engines are in diesel mode, from gross fuel oil storage of 83.3 m³.
Yong Gang Xiao Tuo 60’s FiFi1 class off-ship fire-fighting system was supplied by Jason Engineering. Its pumps are driven off the front of each main engine.
Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard outfitted this tug’s forward deck with a double-drum and hydraulic hawser winch, supplied by W-Rig. This Singapore-headquartered company also supplied capstans for both the forward and aft decks and anchor windlasses. The tow hook aft was supplied by Mampaey.
Accommodation on Yong Gang Xiao Tuo 60 is fully compliant with Maritime Labour Convention 2006 requirements for a crew of 10. It is within a two-level deckhouse, including six single-occupancy officer cabins on the second deck. There are two double cabins in the first tier of the deckhouse, a full galley, a large crew mess and lounge.
Yong Gang Xiao Tuo 60 can store 40.0 m³ of potable water, 60.1 m³ of ballast and 21.5 m³ of fire-fighting foam.
Yong Gang Xiao Tuo 60 particulars
Owner: Ningbo Zhoushan Port
Builder: Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard
Operations: port and coastal towage
Country: China
Designer: Robert Allan
Design: RAstar 3800-DF
Classification: China Classification Society
Fuel: LNG + diesel
Length, oa: 38 m
Beam, moulded: 13.50 m
Depth, least moulded: 5.80 m
Maximum draught (navigational): 5.53 m
Gross Tonnage: 750 gt
Propulsion and performance
LNG storage: 55 m³
Fuel oil storage: 83.3 m³
Engines: 2 x Niigata 8L28AHX-DF
Power: 2,389 kW at 800 rpm
Thrusters: 2 x Kongsberg US 255 CP
Fuel system: Gloryholder Liquefied Gas Machinery
Bollard pull ahead: 80.3 tonnes
Maximum speed: 13.5 knots
Robert Allan LNG tugs
Robert Allan has provided designs for five gas-fuelled tugs, built for three different owners in Europe and Asia. It has another design under contract for three dual-fuel tugs scheduled to be built for a North American tug operator.
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