Shipyards in east and southeast Asia have picked up a series of tug newbuilding orders as the sector continues to benefit from rising maritime exports from the region’s ports and growing global shipping fleets
Shipyards also secured contracts to build tugs for naval forces in the region.
In China, Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard has built a full orderbook of newbuilding contracts, resulting in multiple tug launches, steel cutting ceremonies and keel laying in Q2 2021 and July.
Its latest launch on 20 July was azimuth stern drive (ASD) tugboat, Haiye Tug 2, which it is building for Qingdao Haiye Ruibang Shipping Co. Just days earlier, Zhenjiang Shipyard cut steel on a 5,220-kW, ASD tug for Jiangsu Wisdom Shipping Co and a 3,676-kW tugboat for an unnamed domestic owner.
In June, the shipyard passed more milestones on newbuilding contracts. On 18 June it launched two ASD tugs for Zhangzhou Gulei Tugboat Co, Gu Gang Tuo 3 with 2,942 kW of installed power and Gu Gang Tuo 4 with 3,680-kW of engine power.
On the same day, Zhenjiang Shipyard cut steel on a 3,240-kW ASD tugboat for Jiangsu Haifu Technological Development Co.
In a busy period, on 16 June Jiangsu Zhenjiang launched two ASD tugs for Nantong Tianmu Shipping. Tian Mu 01 and 02 will have 2,942-kW of installed power.
On 15 June, the shipyard laid the keel of Zhougang Tuo-41 tug for Zhoushan Haitong Port and cut steel on the first of two 2942-kW ASD tugboats ordered by Shanghai Hailong Shipping Service Co. On 12 June the keel was laid on an ASD tug that will have fire-fighting and oil spill recovery equipment on board.
Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard, which celebrated its 70th anniversary in May, laid the keel for ASD tugboat Zhougang Tou-40 for Zhoushan Haitong Port on 1 June and launched Yechang Tuo 9 for Yangjiang Port Yechang Tugboat Co on 31 May. That followed steel cutting for an ASD tug on 17 May and keel laying of another on 22 May. On 14 May, Zhenjiang Shipyard launched ASD tugboat SuGangTuo 1 with 3,234 kW of power and FiFi1 equipment for Jiangsu Sugang Shipping Engineering Co. On 7 May it laid the keel for an ASD tug with 3,880 kW of power and a FiFi system.
In Thailand, Asian Marine Services Public Co (ASIMAR) won a contract to build a new ship-assistance and emergency response tug for the Royal Thai Navy. It will use a Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) design for this tugboat, which will have fire-fighting and oil spill response capabilities.
ASIMAR will build this harbour tug with a shallow draught to a RAmparts 3200-SD design for delivery in 2022. This tug will be similar to two RAmparts 3200-design tugs already in operation assisting naval vessels in Thailand.
This new tug is likely to have a bollard pull of 55 tonnes and speed of more than 12 knots and will be able to fulfil push and tow missions. As a secondary function, this tugboat will support fire-fighting missions with a 2,400 m3/hr FiFi-class pump and fire monitors capable of a 120-m throw distance. It will also have Desmi oil spill response solutions and biological formula oil dispersant, bioQ.
Indonesia remains a major nation for tug construction with many of the region’s shipyards busy with newbuilding campaigns. PT Graha Trisaka Industri is building a fleet of five harbour tugs for Taiwan Navigation. Once delivered, these will operate under a long-term charter contract for CPC Corp, Taiwan’s state-owned energy, petroleum and natural gas company.
These 499-gt tugs will be powered by IHI Power Systems’ Niigata diesel main engines. They will be built with an overall length of 32 m, breadth of 12 m and hull depth of 5.4 m, with delivery between April and November 2022. RAL is providing its RAmparts 3200-W and TRAktor 3200-V designs for tugs being built at the shipyard.
PT United Sindo Perkasa shipyard in Batam is building a series of three ship-handling tugs and two tugboat orders. It is also converting a barge and building a multipurpose support vessel.
Other Indonesian shipyards are busy with orders. Hung Seng Shipbuilding, PT Cahaya Samudra and PT Daya Radar Utama have picked up orders from Indonesian owners this year.
Other yards, including PT Citra Jahari, Kukar Mandiri Shipyard, Karya Teknik Utama and Tuong Aik Shipyard are working on tugs for Indonesian owners.
In Japan, Kanagawa Zosen won contracts to build two tugs for Japanese owners, one for Mitsui OSK and another for Miyagi Marine Services.
In Vietnam, Damen Song Cam shipyard secured an order for a harbour tug for an unnamed Australian port authority.
Riviera Maritime Media will provide free technical and operational webinars in 2021. Sign up to attend on our events page
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.