Seatrade Maritime is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Special manoeuvring craft ordered for Shanghai Deepwater Harbour

Special manoeuvring craft ordered for Shanghai Deepwater Harbour

Shanghai: The operator of Shanghai Deepwater Port has ordered an initial two custom-built Voith Water Tractors to assist ships safely enter, leave or moor at what is planned to be the world's largest container port, reports manufacturer Voith Turbo Marine.

The vessels will be delivered to Shanghai Port Technology Engineering Service Corp by October 2007 - the first time that Voith has delivered VTWs directly to a Chinese end customer - and operated by Shanghai Fuxing Shipping Company. The German company hopes that more of its tractors will in due course be needed at the massive port complex located 32 km off Shanghai, due eventually to have 50 berths and a capacity of 25m teu.

The two VTWs are to be specially built by Chinese shipbuilder San Lin Shipyard, with Voith providing the (Schneider) propellers, turbo couplings and control desks. Voith is also contributing knowhow to the Chinese yard since the 30 x 11 metre craft, powered by two Yanmar diesel engines each rated at 1,940kW, need to be specially designed to cope with rough offshore conditions. The vessels will also be equipped for fire-fighting, with Voith to provide crew instruction.  [09/10/06]