Wärtsilä Corporation has in the middle of June been awarded a contract by Cheoy Lee Shipyards Ltd, Hong Kong, for the supply of propulsion plants for seven 60-tonne bollard pull Z-Tech tugs contracted by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).
The award-winning Z-Tech Concept was developed initially for PSA Marine (Pte) Ltd of Singapore by the Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd. Among the unique features of the Z-Tech tugs are equal bollard pull and speed forward and aft, a safe, flat working deck and a “sea-going” stern for towing in "tractor" mode.
The tugs are being built at Hin Lee (Zhu Hai) Shipyard Co Ltd at Doumen, Zhuhai, in Guangdong province, China, which is owned by Cheoy Lee Shipyards. The tugs will be delivered during the second half of 2006 and in 2007.
The Z-Tech tugs are a modified azimuthing stern drive type, measuring 27.4m in overall length by 11.5m in breadth, with a nominal bollard pull of 60 tonnes and a free-running speed of 12.8 knots.
They will be employed escorting and assisting ships in the Panama Canal. For each tug Wärtsilä will deliver a 3600 kW propulsion plant comprising twin 9-cylinder in-line Wärtsilä 20 engines each driving a Lips can-mounted steerable thruster having a fixed-pitch propeller in a high efficiency HR-nozzle.
The engines will be resiliently-mounted in the tugs. Minimum smoke operation is important for these tugs, and a particular requirement for the engines is that they must be able to accelerate from standstill to full ahead within 12 seconds without heavy smoking.
Lips can-mounted steerable thrusters are of robust design with high thrust-to-power ratios. Their propellers are of efficient design and mechanical losses are low. The bearings and gears have long lifetimes. Oil leakage and water ingress are prevented by high-quality seals throughout. The thrusters are arranged for ease of maintenance with the thruster being mounted into its well from above as one unit so that it can be withdrawn for maintenance while the vessel is afloat.
PSA Marine
PSA Marine, as a fully-owned subsidiary of PSA International, aims to be a world-class marine company providing one-stop marine services globally. It offers a complete suite of services such as harbour towage, offshore marine services to an international clientele that includes oil companies, major shipping lines and national port authorities. In addition to its operations in Singapore, PSA Marine also operates in various ports and terminals in Asia and Australia.
Wärtsilä Corporation
Wärtsilä is The Ship Power Supplier for builders, owners and operators of vessels and offshore installations. Our own global service network takes complete care of customers’ ship machinery at every lifecycle stage. Wärtsilä is also a leading provider of power plants, operation and lifetime care services in decentralized power generation.
With a worldwide network of 130 offices and workshops in 60 countries providing a service workforce of some 6000 persons, Wärtsilä is able to provide the best possible support for system solutions, equipment maintenance, on time deliveries and even plant operation.
Media contact:
Marit Holmlund-Sund
Public Relations Manager, Ship Power
Wärtsilä Corporation
Direct tel: +358 10 709 1439
Direct fax: +358 10 709 1425
e-mail: marit.holmlund-sund@wartsila.com
Internet: www.wartsila.com
