Two Caterpillar 3508B main engines have a total output of 2,000bhp to turn a pair of four blade, fixed pitch Mikado propellers rotating in 2.2m short nozzles. A bollard pull of approximately 28 tons is quoted and a free running speed of 12 knots.

A double drum towing and anchor handling winch is fitted, along with a Mampaey quick release towing hook. The winch carries 830m of 38mm diameter steel wire rope on the towing drum and a 600m work wire on the anchor handling drum.

On its delivery voyage from Malaysia last year, North diverted to the Black Sea to collect the partially completed cargo ship Victoriadiep for towage to Rotterdam. Since then the tug has been active on a number of coastal towing operations including work with the specialist ro-ro transport barge Terra Marique of Robert Wynn & Sons. It is understood that Avra Towage is in the process of acquiring at least one more tug of the same type.