Hong Kong Salvage and Towage (HKST) recently took delivery of two new tugs in a series designed by Canadian naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd (RAL). The bespoke tugs LNG Sentinel I and LNG Sentinel II are classed by Bureau Veritas and were specifically designed for service at the Hong Kong LNG Terminal (HKLTL) import facilities.
Featuring a unique electrical propulsion system with Z-drives that can receive power from both diesel and dual fuel (diesel and LNG) propulsion gensets, these vessels will help maintain a safety zone around the terminal and assist with berthing of LNG carriers to the jetty. They will also transport personnel plus equipment between Hong Kong and the floating regasification and storage unit (FSRU) and jetty. Their standby duties may include emergency towing of the FSRU, firefighting, spill response, and rescue.
The tugs each have an LOA of 42 metres, a moulded beam of 16 metres, a moulded depth of 6.6 metres, and a navigational draught of 6.8 metres. The propulsion will deliver a speed of over 14 knots and a bollard pull of 105 tonnes astern.
Space will be available on each tug for 11 crewmembers plus up to 20 additional personnel such as rescued accident survivors. Each tug also has tank space for 46 cubic metres of recovered oil, 18 cubic metres of firefighting foam, and 12 cubic metres of chemical dispersant.
