Rizhao Port, on the coast of the Yellow Sea, has started operating two ASD tugs built at a local shipyard
These tugs were constructed 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 RAL said was adapted for owners requiring operate tugs with a shallow draught and for assisting ships with low freeboards.
These new tugs are operating in Rizhao Port, China, after being delivered to the owner in February and March this year.
Ri Gang Tuo 1 and Ri Gang Tuo 2 have total power of 3,676 kW, which comes from two IHI Power Systems manufactured Niigata 6L28HX main diesel engines driving two Kongsberg Z-drives, of US205S P20 type with fixed-pitch propellers.
An official naming ceremony for Ri Gang Tuo 1 and Ri Gang Tuo 2 was held at the owner’s fleet base in late April.
Each 495-gt tugboat has an overall length of 34 m, a moulded beam of 11 m, a hull depth of 5 m and navigational draught of around 5 m.
These multipurpose tugs are outfitted with a variety of deck machinery including a hawser winch from Masada Ironworks Co and two windlasses.
Accommodations have been 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, of the 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 fenders. Sheer fendering consists of D rubbers and a smaller cylindrical fender at the stern.
