Canadian naval architecture practice Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) has been awarded a contract to design an AmpRA 3600 tug for Tianjin Port in Northern China.
The AmpRA 3600 series tug will be constructed at Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard Group. According to RAL, this builds on a successful conventional propulsion design for the same owner and shipyard, with two vessels of similar hull form in service, but now with a much greener propulsion system. The AmpRA 3600 will be entirely powered from batteries, with no generator sets onboard, making it a fully electric and diesel free ship handling tug. It will also be the first RAL battery electric vessel operating in China.
The main equipment will be supplied by various Chinese manufacturers, including over 7MWh of batteries from CATL, the electrical system from the 704 Institute, and L-drives from Nanjing High Accurate Marine Equipment.
The AmpRA 3600 has the following key vessel particulars: length overall 35.8m, breadth, moulded 11.2m, depth, least moulded 5.2m, bollard pull 62t, accommodation for seven personnel.
Image: drawing of AmpRA 3600 for China (source: Robert Allan Ltd)
