Chinese Yard Builds a Large ASD Tug for the Mediterranean

Under construction in China at the yard of Guangdong Hope Shipbuilding Industry Ltd, the 38m vessel will be owned by Purplewater Towing Ltd of the British Virgin Islands, registered in the UK, and operated in conjunction with Rimorchiatori Siciliani Srl based at the Port of Termini Imerese.

Named Garibaldo , the new tug will be a versatile vessel equipped to provide a wide range of services at oil and gas terminals and with the capability to operate offshore. The tug will be classed Lloyds +100A1 TUG +Escort +LMC +Fire Fighting 1 +Oil Recovery vessel (Unrestricted Service).

An ASD tug of 38m in length overall, 11m in the beam and 4.2m draft, Garibaldo will be powered by Caterpillar main engines generating a total of 4960bhp. Two fully azimuthing Schottel SRP 121FP propulsion units will be employed, giving the tug a bollard pull ahead of 60 tonnes and 52 tonnes astern at MCR.

Garibaldo is expected to be handed over to her owners in Hong Kong during the second week of February 2005. The tug will operate in the Mediterranean with another British registered tug owned by Purplewater, the Voith tractor Tigrillo and if necessary be joined by the tug Alce Nero from Rimorchiatori Siciliani Srl. Captain David Henshaw, based in the UK, has been appointed Operations Manager to Purplewater. The construction contract contains and option for one further vessel but at the time of writing there was no confirmation that the option will be exercised.