Two multipurpose tugs in Rizhao Port have Niigata main engines and Kongsberg Z-drives
Rizhao Port, on the coast of the Yellow Sea, started operating two new azimuth stern drive (ASD) tugs in Q1 2022, built by Rizhao Kingda Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co, in Shandong, China to a Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) design.
Ri Gang Tuo 1 and Ri Gang Tuo 2 were built to a RAmparts 3400 design, which was adapted for the owner’s requirements of tugs with a shallow draught, able to assist ships with low freeboards, and China Classification Society requirements and notations.
These new tugs are operating in Rizhao Port, China, after being delivered to the owner in February and March this year. An official naming ceremony was held at the owner’s fleet base in April.
Rizhao Port has 46 deepwater berths in two main areas, Lanzhao and Shijiu, for container ships, tankers and dry bulk carriers.
Ri Gang Tuo 1 and Ri Gang Tuo 2 have total power of 3,676 kW, which comes from two IHI Power Systems and Niigata 6L28HX main diesel engines driving two Kongsberg Z-drives, of US205S P20 type with fixed-pitch propellers.
Each 495-gt tugboat has an overall length of 34.3 m, a moulded beam of 11.2 m, a hull depth of 5.2 m and navigational draught of around 4.6 m.
During sea trials, these tugs achieved bollard pull astern of 64.3 tonnes and free running speeds of 14 knots. They can carry up to 105 m3 of fuel oil, 43 m3 of potable water, another 43 m3 of ballast and 12 m3 of fire-fighting foam.
These multipurpose tugs are outfitted with a variety of deck machinery, including a hawser winch from Masada Ironworks Co and two windlasses.
They have accommodation outfitted for a crew of 10, with the master’s cabin, mess and galley arranged in the deckhouse and all other crew cabins located on the lower accommodation deck.
The wheelhouse is designed with a single split-type control station for all-round visibility, including to the bow, aft deck and to the sides.
Ship-handling fenders at the bow consist of an upper row of cylindrical fenders and a lower course of W-shaped fenders. Sheer fendering consists of D-type rubbers and a smaller cylindrical fender at the stern.
Ri Gang Tuo 1 and Ri Gang Tuo 2 particulars
Owner: Rizhao Port
Country of operations: China
Builder: Rizhao Kingda Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co
Designer: Robert Allan Ltd
Design: RAmparts 3400
Class: China Classification
Length, oa: 34.3 m
Beam, moulded: 11.2 m
Depth: 5.2 m
Draught: 4.6 m
Gross tonnage: 495 gt
Bollard pull: 64.3 tonnes
Speed: 14 knots
Main engines: 2 x Niigata 6L28HX, 1,838 kW
Propulsion: 2 x Kongsberg US205S P20, FP Z-drives
Accommodation: 10
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