A contract has been awarded to a propulsion unit supplier for one of the first electric tugs to be built in China by a Chinese shipbuilder
Lianyungang Hongyun Co will build this electric-powered tug for Guangzhou Port Group, the largest tugboat owner in south China, with thrusters supplied by Schottel.
On completion, the China Classification Society will certify the tug with N and E i-Ship ratings, classifying it as a vessel with an intelligent navigation and energy-efficient management systems.
This 38-m harbour tug will have a beam of 10 m and an energy storage system providing electrical power to two L-drive thrusters.
It was designed by Guangzhou Marine Engineering Corp for escorting, towing, assisting and berthing ships with low emissions in the Port of Guangzhou, south China.
Schottel will supply two rudderpropellers type SRP 360 in the embedded L-drive variant, with an input power of 1,500 kW and a propeller diameter of 2.2 m.
The Spay, Germany-headquartered manufacturer said this 360º steerable thruster combines maximum manoeuvrability and bollard pull with efficiency during free sailing.
“Fewer mechanical parts ensure less mechanical loss and incur lower maintenance costs,” said Schottel.
“The embedded L-drive variant of the SRP reduces the installation height of the thrusters. This yields several key advantages, especially with respect to smaller vessels such as tugs, where space is always an issue.”
Schottel will support Guangzhou Port in operating this electric-powered tug by guaranteeing operational readiness of the thrusters and long-term availability of spare parts and maintenance engineers, through its network of service-support subsidiaries.
Guangzhou Port has 20 tugs in operation or under construction with Schottel propulsion systems.
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