Suez Canal Authority's newest tugs hit the water

Egypt's South Red Sea Shipyard (SRSS) has launched two new tugs ordered by the Suez Canal Authority (SCA).

Sisters AZM1 and AZM2 are the first two in a series of ten tugs that SRSS is building for the SCA. Upon completion, each tug will have a length of 32 metres, a beam of 13.5 metres, a draught of six metres, and external firefighting equipment.

Power will be provided by ABC engines that will deliver a bollard pull of approximately 90 tonnes and a speed of 12 knots.

The SCA said the launch of the new tugs falls within the framework of its strategy to develop and modernise its fleet in accordance with the latest global technologies to cope with rapid advancements in the maritime transport industry.

The next four tugs in the series are also under various stages of construction at SRSS' Alexandria facilities. Design work on all six tugs was provided by Canadian naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd.