VIDEO: BHP charters in two more Rotortugs for Port Hedland

Written by Nick Blenkey
RT Imperieuse: One of two Kotug Rotortugs chartered in by BHP

RT Imperieuse: One of two Kotug Rotortugs chartered in by BHP

Rotterdam-headquartered Kotug reports that two newbuild Rotortugs — RT Imperieuse and RT Clerke — have arrived in Port Hedland, Australia, to start a long term charter to mining giant BHP. Both vessels will support BHP’s bulk carrier loadings at the port.

Kotug’s Rotortugs use a triangular propulsion configuration to provide improved vessel safety, power, efficiency and maneuverability. Both the 32 meter ART80-32 tugs just delivered to BHP were built at Cheoy Lee Shipyard’s production facility in Zhuhai, China. Each has three Caterpillar main engines, that deliver a total output of 5,295 kW each giving the vessels a 13 knots sailing speed, and 80 tons bollard pull power.

Both Rotortugs are equipped with advanced DMT Escort Winches. With these two new state-of-the-art Rotortugs, the total number of Rotortugs deployed by BHP is eight.

The vessels are named for Clerke Reef and Imperieuse Reef, two of the three reefs that form coral atolls in the Rowley Shoals Marine Park, 300 kilometers west of Broome, Australia.

“We are very pleased that BHP, our partner for more than 12 years, once again put their trust in Kotug’s ART 80-32 on a long-term contract. The vessel is a perfect fit for assisting the world’s largest, heavily loaded vessels in the Pilbara region,” says Ard-Jan Kooren, president & CEO of Kotug International.

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