Rolls-Royce powers six new Chinese tugs

Two types of thrusters have been selected for the six new tugs, including four US205 fixed pitch P20s, which will power the 5,200hp tugs, and two US255 FPs to power the 6,800hp tugs. The former are capable of producing 62 tonnes of bollard pull while the latter can produce 80 tonnes of bollard pull, enough capability to tow an LNG tanker.

In 1999, the first azimuth thrusters were delivered to the 5,000hp tug named

Asia No. 1,

the largest tug in Asia at the time, built for Qingdao Port by Zhenjiang Shipyard. Since then, Rolls-Royce has provided 26 azimuth thrusters for 13 of Qingdao Port’s existing tugs. Today, over 200 tugs equipped with Rolls-Royce azimuth thrusters are in operation in China.