Schotel will provide propulsion systems for two electric tugboats in Guangzhou Port

German propulsion specialist SCHOTTEL will equip Guangzhou Port Group's latest electric tugboat with two SRP 360 LE-Drive variant steering paddles.

It is reported that the two newly built port tugs are built by Lianyungang Ganglun Barge Hongyun Industrial Co., LTD., designed by Guangzhou Shipbuilding and Ocean Engineering Design and Research Institute and classified by China Classification Society. The new 37.9 meters long and 10.5 meters wide will be mainly used for berthing assistance, escort and towing operations in Guangzhou Port after delivery.

Each Schotel SRP propeller has an input power of 1500 kW and a propeller diameter of 2.2 meters. This 360-degree steering thruster combines maximum steering with bollard pull for superior efficiency in free navigation, providing powerful thrust at all times in any chosen heading. The eco-friendly L-Drive is fully in line with the modern propulsion concepts of electric tugs. Fewer mechanical parts ensure lower mechanical wear and lower maintenance costs.

This embedded, eco-friendly L-Drive variant SRP reduces the mounting height of the thruster. This brings a number of key advantages, especially for smaller vessels such as tugboats where space is always an issue. To ensure the normal operation of the thrusters, Schotell guarantees a long-term supply of spare parts and provides customers with a dense global network of Schotell subsidiaries to provide service support anytime, anywhere.

As the largest tugboat owner in South China, Guangzhou Port currently has more than 20 tugboats in operation or under construction with Schottell propulsion systems. The tugboat builder, Hongyun Industrial, and Schottell also have many years of successful cooperation.

After the completion of the new tugboats, the China Classification Society will start the process of certifying the new tugboats to the N and E i-Ship classes and classifying them as ships with intelligent navigation systems and intelligent energy efficiency management systems.