VESSEL REVIEW | PNT Bholu – Pakistan Navy places versatile harbour tug into service

Photo: Macduff Ship Design

The Pakistan Navy has placed a new ASD harbour tug to provide towing and ship handling support for the service’s other surface vessels.

PNT Bholu was built by local company Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works in partnership with UK-based the Tor Group to a design by Scottish naval architecture firm Macduff Ship Design. Construction was completed in compliance to Bureau Veritas class requirements.

Photo: Tor Group

The tug has an LOA of 25 metres, a moulded beam of 10.5 metres, a moulded depth of 4.75 metres, a maximum draught of 5.5 metres, and accommodations for up to 16 crewmembers. Two Cummins QSK50-M1 engines that each produce 1,529 kW at 1,800 rpm drive Schottel SRP 1012 2,200mm fixed-pitch azimuthing propellers to deliver a maximum speed of 12 knots and a bollard pull of 52 tonnes while two Cummins QSB7-DM 122kW generators supply electrical power for the onboard systems.

The deck machinery consists of forward towing winches supplied by DMT, a towing hook, a capstan, and a Toimil Marine T-17500M knuckle boom crane. The tug can also be used for external firefighting duties thanks to the installation of an FFS 400m³/h pump with two monitors mounted on the wheelhouse roof.

The wheelhouse itself also boasts a Samsung air conditioner, a Seematz searchlight, and upward-facing windows to improve the crew’s situational awareness especially when assisting the navy’s larger vessels.

The accommodation areas include crew cabins, a mess, and toilets with showers.

Photo: Tor Group

PNT Bholu
SPECIFICATIONS
Type of vessel: Harbour tug
Classification: Bureau Veritas
Flag: Pakistan
Owner: Pakistan Navy
Designer: Macduff Ship Design, UK
Builders: Tor Group, UK; Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works, Pakistan
Length overall: 25 metres
Length bp: 23.25 metres
Beam: 5.5 metres
Draught: 10.5 metres
Depth: 4.75 metres
Main engines: 2 x Cummins QSK50-M1, each 1,529 kW at 1,800 rpm
Propulsion: 2 x Schottel SRP 1012
Generators: 2 x Cummins QSB7-DM, each 122 kW at 1,500 rpm
Maximum speed: 12 knots
Bollard pull: 52 tonnes
Winches: Ibercisa; DMT
Crane: Toimil Marine T-17500M
Other deck equipment: Mampaey towing hook
Other equipment installed: Samsung air conditioner
Searchlight: Seematz
Firefighting equipment: FFS pump; 2 x FFS monitors
Fuel capacity: 86,000 litres
Freshwater capacity: 48,000 litres
Accommodation: Cabins; mess; toilets
Crew: 16


Baird Maritime

The best maritime site on the web. The sea's our scene!