Editorial CommEnt
Tug newbuild
market weathers
the storm
Graphic of Wärtsilä Ship design’s W tug (Credit: Wärtsilä
Corporation).
G
ood news! Latest figures have ing the release of these figures and some them. The result of this is that the tug
shown that the tug construction delivery times are likely to slip, Marcon owners and their ship-owning custom-
market is not doing as badly as expects that the total number of tugs on ers have benefited considerably from
first predicted. It is understood that as of the world order book will slow as 2010 the advances.
November 2009 there were 46 newbuild- progresses, almost petering out, due to The complexity of modern tugs
ings in the ‘8000hp and lower’ range the completion of existing contracts and dictates that they must be designed with
scheduled for delivery from 2009 until vessels delivered. precision. The intensive use of detailed
2010, according to the Tug Boat Market Given the major changes in large ship computer-aided design and manufactur-
Report from marine consultants Marcon design it is not really a surprise that the ing systems (CAD/CAM) ensures that
International Inc. tugs that support them should become the final designs supplied to the builders
Elsewhere, it has also been reported larger and the required turn-around require almost no interpretation. This is
that the number of sea-going tugs of more the main factor for the well-known design
than 100grt that have entered service, as specialists’ domination in the market.
of November 2009, has increased by 1202
“As a result of these
2009 became the year for new players
on 2008 figures, according to intelligence
advancements tugs
to move into tug design. Wärtsilä Ship
from Lloyd’s Register. Design of Finland unveiled its ‘W Tug’
According to Marcon and other availa-
have been required
concept at the 2009 Nor-shipping confer-
ble sources, there are 762 tugs or ‘towing/
pushing vessels’ on the global order book.
to become more
ence and exhibition in Oslo. The new
escort tug design features an 80tonnes
Of the 762, it is believed that China leads
powerful, more
bollard pull and high manoeuvrability.
the way with 174 tugs on its books (up by As with the designers, there are a
15 since August 2009), quickly followed manoeuvrable and small number of suppliers of sophisti-
by Malaysia at 148 (down 10); Turkey at
49; Indonesia and Spain with 48 each,
more versatile than
cated propulsion and steering systems
for tugs. They are primarily based in
USA at 35; Brazil at 29; Poland at 25;
ever before”
northern Europe, Scandinavia and
Romania and Singapore at 24 each; Japan Japan. According to Marcon, Caterpillar
at 23; Vietnam at 22; 13 in Egypt; 11 in leads the market with sea-going engines
Russia; Italy at 10; India and the United times expected by the owner should be with a current order book of around 227
Arab Emirates at nine each; eight in Cuba; shorter. As a result of these advancements engines since November 2009.
seven each in Canada and the Philip- tugs have been required to become more At no time in the tug business’
pines; Serbia and South Korea six each; powerful, more manoeuvrable and more 178-year history has there been such an
four each in Chile, Iran and Peru; three versatile than ever before. intense and sustained period of tug
each in Libya and Ukraine; Argentina, the There are a small number of very construction as there has been in the last
Netherlands and South Africa two each; well-known designers that currently ten years or so. Whether the industry
and Germany, Greece and Saudi Arabia dominate the tug market on a global will continue to grow remains to be seen,
with one each. scale. Their designs continue to be but it will be interesting to watch how
However, before we get too excited innovative and trend setting and they it will weather the financial storm affect-
it should be noted that although new have proved that small improvements ing other sectors of the marine shipbuild-
orders will continue to be placed follow- can create competitive advantages for ing industry. SBI
Ship & Boat International March/April 2010 7
SBI_MarApr10_p7.indd 7 26/02/2010 12:19:18
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