Chinese tug operator Liaoning Longyun Shunze Tug has ordered a fleet of azimuth stern drive (ASD) tugs from a major domestic shipbuilder.
Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard has commenced construction of four ASD tugboats that will each have maximum power of 4,475 kW.
Steel for the first of these tugs was cut on 19 April at a ceremony in the shipyard. They are scheduled to be completed in 2020.
Liaoning Longyun Shunze Tug is mainly responsible for assisting vessels entering and leaving berths of Liaoning Haihang Industry Co, which is owned by Liaoning Baolai Corp.
These four ASD tugs will be used for escorting, pushing and towing ships and berthing operations, including when vessels need to shift berths.
They will be built to Liaoning Longyun Shunze’s requirements for environmental excellence, resource conservation, function matching and benefit maximisation. Their technical advances were in response to developments in industrial assembly in Liaobinpetro Park and resource advantages of Bohai economical circle.
Construction of these tugs started one day after Zhenjiang Shipyard delivered an ASD tugboat to Baoshan Iron & Steel Co. Bao Gang Tuo 19, with 3,236 kW of propulsion power, was delivered on 18 April.
Earlier this month, Zhenjiang Shipyard launched a 2,660-kW towing tug ready for outfitting. Cao Port 28 will be completed and handed over to Caofeidian Tugging Services Co later in Q2 2019.
Zhenjiang Shipyard is also building 11 pusher vessels for COSCO Shipping Bulk Transportation. Once completed, these will be mobilised to support marine services at a bauxite mining project in Guinea. These tugs will each have 2,685 kW of power for pushing full and empty barges along rivers in Guinea.
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