The first of Port of Tauranga's new-build tugs arrived this morning after a 30 day delivery voyage from Hong Kong.
The Tai Pari and her sister vessel Tai Timu were built to the Port's specifications by Cheoy Lee of Hong Kong. The Tai Timu is scheduled to arrive at Taurangaat the end of June.
"We are extremely pleased to take delivery of Tai Pari. These new vessels are a significant upgrade to our existing fleet and will serve the Port for the next 25 years" said Phil Julian, Port of Tauranga's Manager Operations.
The next few weeks will be spent familiarising Port staff in the operation of the vessel and it is planned to enter service at the end of the month.
The tugs have the same configuration as the Port's existing tug Sir Robert, with an Azimuth stern drive and power delivered through shrouded propeller housings on vertical shafts that can be rotated through 360 degrees, meaning the tug can move at full power in any direction. It's a style the Port is familiar with, and is a highly manoeuvrable and powerful tug for its 24m size. The new tugs will have a 74-tonne bollard pull, whereas the Sir Robert has a 50 tonne bollard pull.
The tug upgrade is part of a general infrastructure investment programme the Port Company is undertaking to position Tauranga as the North Island port capable of handling the larger container ships expected in the near future.
The more powerful tugs are part of a $350 million capital expenditure programme to ensure New Zealand's exporters and importers can access the blue water savings of larger ships.
It includes the $30 million Sulphur Point wharf extension, another $12 million Liebherr Post-Panamax container crane, six more straddle carriers at approximately $1 million each and a $50 million harbour dredging programme that will increase the depth from 12.9m to 16m.
