Tug construction at Zhenjiang Shipyard has accelerated to meet growing demand for Chinese towage in expanding ports
It has been a hectic start to 2019 for tug construction at the Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard Group, in China, with several vessels launched and delivered. The group has also progressed on an important green tug project that will set a new benchmark for environmental performance in 2019. These projects are for domestic operators to support expanding ports and terminals in China.
Zhenjiang Shipyard has delivered two tugs and launched another five during the first two months of this year. It was also outfitting the first dual-fuel ASD tugboat, which will be operated in Ningbo Zhoushan Port and set emissions standards when it enters service later this year.
This 38-m tug is based on a Robert Allan RAstar 3800-DF design. It will have a pair of Niigata 8L28AHX dual-fuel engines powering two Rolls-Royce US 255 controllable pitch Z-drives, a bollard pull of around 80 tonnes and LNG storage capacity of 55 m3.
The shipyard said this vessel could achieve an exchange between fuel oil and LNG of up to 90%. “Operating in gas mode, the vessel can reduce 50% emissions of SOx, 98% emissions of particle matter, 80% emissions of NOx and 22% emissions of CO2.”
Zhenjiang Shipyard’s latest delivery, on 22 February, was an azimuth stern drive (ASD) tug to Shanghai Dayu Shipping, based on the Yangtze river delta. Hu Tuo 8 has two main engines that each develop 1,471 kW of power.
Hu Tuo 8 will support operations in a new port in Shanghai and along the river shipping channels and is fitted for coastal towage, river towage and ship manoeuvring.
On 28 January, Zhenjiang Shipyard delivered another ASD tug with a similar power rating to a Chinese port. Bingang Towing 8 was designed and built for Binzhou Port Group Co with 2,942 kW of power.
This swiftly followed the launch of an ASD towing tug with a lower power rating. Cao Port 27 was launched on 27 January with 2,660 kW of power. It is being outfitted for Caofeidian Tugging Services Co for operations in Tangshan Port.
The Chinese shipbuilder has launched three other tugboats this year including ASD tug Xin Beibuwangang 15 on 23 January. This was built for Beibu Gulf Port Co’s BeiHai Port branch and will have a total power output of 2,942 kW.
This followed launches of two other ASD tugboats on 8 January. These tugs are built for Tianjin Port Tug & Barge Co and will each have total power of 2,354 kW. Jingang Lun 31 and Jingang Lun 32 are a unique pair of combined towing and pilotage vessels. They were designed by Robert Allan and will comply with China Classification Society requirements for intelligent ship (i-ship) and ice-class B notations.
These 40-m vessels have design service speeds of more than 14 knots and extended accommodation for a crew of 10 plus pilots which is why they were built with longer hulls than usually used for a pure towing vessel design.
All ASD tugs built by Zhenjiang Shipyard are lifted from dry construction facilities in the shipyard on to quaysides and are then outfitted before being delivered to their owners.
Zhenjiang Shipyard completed a series of ASD tugs for Cangzhou Bohai’s new district Gangxing Tugboat Co in December 2018. It delivered two ASD tugboats Huanghuagang tuo 8 and Huanghuagang tuo 9 on 19 December. On 8 December, the shipyard delivered Huanghuagang tuo 6 and Huanghuagang tuo 7 to Gangxing Tugboat, with each ASD tug having total power of 3,824 kW.
Jingang Lun 31 and Jingang Lun 32 particulars
Type: ASD towage/pilotage vessels
Owner: Tianjin Port Tug & Barge Co
Builder: Zhenjiang Shipyard
Designer: Robert Allan
Class: China Classification Society
Notations: intelligent ship (i-ship), Ice Class B
Length, oa: 40 m
Beam, moulded: 11 m
Hull depth, moulded: 5.1 m
Maximum draught: 4 m
Top speed: >14 knots
Total power: 2,354 kW
Fuel oil: 80 m3
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