VESSEL REVIEW | Siugang Diantuo 01 – New electric tug to serve China's Guangzhou Port and Pearl River

A new electric harbour tug has commenced operations out of the Port of Guangzhou in southern China’s Guangdong province.

The aptly named Siugang Diantuo 01 (穗港电拖01; “Guangzhou-Hong Kong Electric Tug 01”) was designed by the 605 Research Institute of the China Shipbuilding Group and built by the Lianyungang Port Holding Group. The newbuild is notable for being the first fully electric tug to enter service in southern China.

Capable of autonomous operation

Siugang Diantuo 01 has a length of 38 metres (120 feet), a beam of 10.5 metres (34.4 feet), a design draught of 3.7 metres (12 feet), a depth of 4.8 metres (16 feet), a battery pack with a rated output of 6,000 kWh, and a high level of onboard automation thanks to the installation of a remote control and monitoring system.

The tug can be used autonomously for a range of harbour support duties such as towing, ship berthing and unberthing, escort, and pilot transfers.

Serving a critical shipping lane in southern China

The batteries drive two azimuthing propellers to deliver a service speed of 13.5 knots and a bollard pull of approximately 46.5 tonnes.

The battery installation also allows the tug to operate without emissions, resulting in what the designer said is a reduction of around CNY1.8 million (US$250,000) in operating costs each year.

Siugang Diantuo 01’s area of operations encompasses the waters off the Port of Guangzhou, particularly the Pearl River and the Greater Bay Area that sits between Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau.