New Chinese e-tug to sport Schottel’s equipment

German propulsion system manufacturer Schottel has been contracted to provide two RudderPropellers type SRP 360 in the LE-Drive variant for Guangzhou Port Group’s latest e-tug.

According to Schottel, each SRP has an input power of 1,500 kilowatts and a propeller diameter of 2.2 meters. The eco-friendly L-Drive will fit into the e-tug’s modern propulsion concept.

The embedded L-Drive variant of the SRP reduces the installation height of the thrusters. This yields a number of key advantages, especially with respect to smaller vessels such as tugs, where space is always an issue, Schottel noted.

The new e-tug has been designed by Guangzhou Marine Engineering Corporation and will be built by Lianyungang Hongyun.

The vessel will have a length of about 37.9 meters and a beam of 10.5 meters and will be mainly used for berthing assistance, escorting and towing in the Port of Guangzhou.

The tug will be delivered to the tug operating division of Guangzhou Port Group, the biggest tug owner in South China.

The company currently has more than 20 tugs with Schottel’s propulsion systems in operation or under construction.

On completion, China Classification Society (CCS) will initiate procedures to certify the tug with N and E i-Ship ratings, classifying it as a vessel with an intelligent navigation system and an intelligent energy efficiency management system.

To remind, Schottel has been contracted to provide a propulsion system for the U.S. first all-electric tug. The fully electric tugboat eWolf is owned by US shipowner and operator Crowley and built by Master Boat Builders.