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Voith the Choice for China
30 Jul 2008
The concept of the Voith Water Tractor proved popular with the Shanghai Port Authority. Last year, it had ordered two such VWTs to be completed by October this year.
But the requirements of the world's largest container port, at the moment still under construction, appear to be even greater. Shanghai Port has just placed another order for a VWT of the same type. This third VWT will again be fitted with two Voith Schneider Propellers (VSP).
The Port is a project of gigantic dimensions. Being built 32km offshore, a six lane bridge is connecting it with the coast. In future, 50 container terminals will handle several hundred ships. Operating as tugboats, the Voith Water Tractors will be used to assist direct berthing manoeuvres. With an average water depth of 15m, conditions around the new port are likely to feature high seas and strong winds.
Like the two vessels under construction, the VWT just ordered will be built by the Chinese company San Lin Shipyard. Voith Turbo Schneider Propulsion will equip each of the ships with two VSPs size 28 R5/210-2. The 30m long by 15m wide vessels have a bollard pull of over 50 tons and are driven by Yanmar diesel engines with an output of 1,940 kW. All VWTs are equipped with their own fire-fighting equipment.
Delivery of the third VWT is scheduled for October 2008. With this contract, Voith Turbo Schneider Propulsion not only strengthens its presence in the Chinese growth market, but also, for the first time, deals directly with a Chinese end customer (Shanghai Port Technology Engineering Service Corporation).
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