VESSEL REVIEW | Xia Gang Tuo 30 – Chinese port operator welcomes hybrid tug into service

China's the Xiamen Port Group recently placed a new harbour tug into operation at the Port of Xiamen in Fujian province.

Xia Gang Tuo 30 ("Xiamen Port Tug 30") was built by Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding in compliance to China Classification Society rules. Duties will include general towing, escort, berthing/unberthing assistance for ships calling at the Port of Xiamen, and oil spill response support.

The tug has an LOA of 38.3 metres, a beam of 10.6 metres, a design draught of 3.6 metres, and a depth of 4.9 metres. A hybrid propulsion arrangement of three 1,860kW diesel generators, a 1,960kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack, and two variable frequency permanent magnet motors drives two azimuthing nozzle-housed propellers to deliver a speed of 13.2 knots and a bollard pull of 61 tonnes.

In pure electric mode, the tug can operate for up to two hours at eight knots on a full charge of the batteries, all the while generating zero noise and emissions in port waters. In hybrid mode, the batteries will be used for peak shaving to allow the tug to still sail on conventional propulsion but with less fuel being consumed.

The tug is also equipped with an intelligent vessel system that can facilitate autonomous berthing and unberthing, navigation assistance, collision avoidance, and intelligent monitoring of the engine room.

The Xiamen Port Group expects the operation of Xia Gang Tuo 30 will generate annual energy savings of around 26 per cent and yield reductions in emissions of CO2, carbon monoxide, NOx, and particulate matter of 653 tonnes, 5.13 tonnes, 6.97 tonnes, and 0.12 tonnes, respectively.