Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard Group has delivered the first azimuth stern drive (ASD) tug that complies with China’s tough environmental standards for domestic vessels
It completed ship-handling and fire-fighting tug Tai Gang 3 and delivered it to Taizhou Gangsheng Shipping Co at the end of June.
This is the first ASD tugboat to meet the requirements of China’s main engine exhaust standards (C1 and C2). These standards restrict compounds in engine exhaust emissions for domestic vessels in Chinese inland waterways, ports and coastal areas with carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, methane and particulate matter emissions capped.
This regulation will apply to both auxiliary and propulsion engines used by river boats, coastal vessels, workboats, ferries and fishing vessels.
Tai Gang 3 is a 36.55-m long tug with breadth of 10.2 m and hull depth of 4.5 m. Its main engines have combined power of 3,236 kW providing a maximum speed of 13.7 knots, ahead bollard pull of 56 tonnes and astern bollard pull of 49 tonnes.
It has technology to minimise particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, methane and carbon monoxide emissions and meets the latest discharging standard for sewage water.
Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard said, “The design of the vessel fully reflects the developmental idea of low carbon, green and environmental protection.”
Tai Gang 3 also has the biggest FiFi-class fire-fighting capacity on a vessel operating on the Yangtze River, the shipyard said.
Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard has started constructing seven other new tugs for domestic owners since the start of June.
It commenced block assembly in July on two ASD tugs for Zhoushangang Haitong Tugboat Co. These will have total power of 2,942 kW and FiFi1 fire-fighting capabilities. They are to be named Zhougang Tou-37 and Zhougang Tou-38 when completed.
At the end of June, the shipyard also started block assembly on a similar-powered ASD tug for Zhoushan Gangxing Tug Co. This is expected to be named Gangxing 235 and will have a FiFi1 system. Block assembly on a sister tugboat, Gangxing 236, commenced on 16 June.
This followed steel cutting on three ASD tugboats, to be built for Ningbo Yonggang Tugboat Co on 11 June.
Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard launched an ASD tugboat with FiFi1 and 2,648 kW of power on 28 June. This is being completed for Nanjing Port (Group) Co during Q3 2020.
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