The COSCO (Zhoushan) Shipyard has recently delivered one of two articulated tug barge units on order from Italy's Ilva Serivzi Marittimi.
The Italian-flagged tug, named 'Corona Australe', is designed by Shanghai Bestway Marine Engineering Design. Measuring 44.5-metres by 16.8 metres, the vessel is powered by a pair of 4,080kW Wärtsilä engines.
Each engine drives a three-phase shaft generator. Additional electric needs on the vessel are met by two Cummins KTA19 powered 370kW generator sets. An additional Cummins 6CTA 90 kW emergency genset is also installed.
The barges will have four holds designed to carry steel coil, steel plate and slabs for the owners. With two barges for each tug, one can be left for cargo handling while the second is in transit with the tug.
Both tugs and barges will be classed by RINA.
