This design contract is the first to be awarded outside China by a Chinese Port Authority for tugboats or similar commercial vessels, and is a major milestone for RAL. Working in collaboration with Zhenjiang Shipyard Ltd of Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, the nominated shipbuilders for the new tugs, Robert Allan Ltd will provide a complete Classification Society approval package as well as a complete 3-D Product Model for all the steel construction of the tugs. The shipyard will develop their own piping and electrical installation details.

Initially, two vessels will be constructed with delivery of the first vessel scheduled for the end of this year. That number could increase if the project develops into an on-going fleet replacement program.

The RAmparts 3200 Class tugs to be built for Ningbo will be 32m in length overall, with a beam of 11.6m and maximum draft of 5m. Niigata of Japan will supply the propulsion machinery, including a pair of 6L28HX diesel main engines, each rated at 1,764kW at 750rpm (total 4794bhp), to drive Niigata ZP-41 propulsion units. This arrangement will give the tugs a bollard pull of 60 tonnes and a free running speed of 12.5 knots.

The vessels accommodation will be fitted out for a crew of up to 12 persons.

In contrast to the Chinese order RAL continue to develop a significant presence in Europe and elesewhere.

Prolific Spanish tug builders Union Naval Valencia, part of the Boluda towage group, currently has a series of six compact RAmparts 2400 class ASD tugs under construction.

Three are destined for local use and three for Mexico and all six will meet the requirements of Germanischer Lloyd +100 A5 TUG +MC, AUT. The tugs are to be 23.8m in length overall, with a 11m beam and maximum draft of 5.1m The tugs will be powered by two Caterpillar 3516B main engines running at 1600rev/ min to generate a total of 4255bhp (2 x 1566kW) to power a pair of Schottel SRP 1212 CP fully azimuthing propulsion units. A bollard pull of 52 tonnes is anticipated while towing ahead and 50 tonnes astern, with a free running speed of 13 knots.

A single drum Hatlapa hydraulic towing winch, with a brake holding load of 137.5 tonnes, will be fitted to accommodate an 80mm diameter towline of 150m in length. Two Oelkes-Eichler quick release tow hooks will also be provided each with a safe working load of 65 tonnes.

A fire fighting system, with one monitor is specified, supplied by a single Kvaerner pump rated at 800m 3/hr at 12 bar.

Unlike most compact tugs, where small size and low manning are a priority, these vessels will be fitted out to accommodate a crew of up to seven persons.

The most recent RAmparts delivery is the Kaori , a 2400 series vessel built by President Marine in Singapore for Compagnie Maritime Chambon and based at Noumea, on the Pacific Island of New Caledonia.

A vessel of similar dimensions to the Spanish tugs, Kaori is powered by two Caterpillar 3512B main engines, producing a total of 3542bhp, coupled to Schottel SRP 1010FP propulsion units to achieve a bollard pull of 40 tonnes.