How to Select a Tug Boat Builder
Have you ever wondered how a ship is moved to the shipyard if its engine fails? If you’ve been on board a vessel and experienced such a situation, you might have heard about a type of vessel called a tug boat. For those who have no idea about what it is, let’s take a look.
Introduction
A tug boat is a small yet extremely powerful boat that is deployed to help assist larger vessels. Tug boats play a crucial role in securing the entry and exit of ships from the ports and are essential in emergencies like vessel fires at sea. Therefore, an efficient tugboat is a crucial component of maritime operations. If you are planning to purchase a tug boat, a clear idea about its features uses, and characteristics is essential. Let’s have a look at what a tug boat operator should consider while choosing a tug boat and where to find the best tug boat builder in Dubai.
Tug Boat Types
A tugboat’s size, bollard pull, power and maneuverability are major factors and must be tailored to the type of operation the tug is to do. For example, a harbour tug will be specifically designed to operate within ports, are typically smaller and would often need to maneuver and assist other vessels in tight spaces. In comparison, an escort tug’s capabilities include towing vessels that are under navigation, doing other types of towage operations and can also include firefighting of marine incidents. Meanwhile, terminal tugs provide towage assistance at port facilities and for offshore floating facilities such as SPM, FSRU, FLNG, FPSO, and FSO terminals. Terminal tugs are often larger and their services could include escorting, berthing, safety, firefighting and oil pollution control.
What to consider while choosing a Tug Boat Builder
Before finding a tugboat builder for your operation, there are a number of things you need to consider. When selecting a shipyard, the primary elements that must be confirmed are a shipbuilder’s experience and engineering expertise. The customer should consider the quality standards of the tug boats the shipyard builds, the price and the time it takes to build the tugs. It is also important to consider the types of tug boats that the builder has experience with and work closely with the builder to select your tug’s specifications.
Quality
Quality is a critical component of tug boat design and construction, it includes multiple facets. Tug boats are built under classification society approval and registered under a country’s flag, meeting regulatory requirements. During construction, it is surveyed rigorously to allow certification in compliance with the rules. These design and construction standards must meet a wide range of requirements for materials, structures, machinery, electrical, stability, FFE, LSA and many other elements. Therefore, a builder must ensure that the tug boat maintains the highest quality and safety standards. The quality of the vessel’s construction is highly important for the effective and safe functioning of a tug boat when doing towage operations.
Choosing a trustworthy tug boat builder who has the engineering and project management expertise to manage all these aspects is a critical factor that will ensure a high-quality tug is delivered. An experienced and high-quality builder will save the buyer money, and time and avoid technical difficulties during operations.
Safety
Before choosing a tug boat builder, look into the safety procedures they adhere to. A good quality shipyard will hold ISO45001 certification for health and safety management systems, as this certificate will ensure the builder is audited by a 3rd party to follow correct procedures. Check to see if the tug boat manufacturer you selected holds shipyard liability insurance, with coverage for loss and damage, and the shipyard should care for their employees and workers with good facilities, have workers’ compensation insurance, and follow best practices for employee welfare. It is evident that safety doesn’t just involve giving employees Personal Protective Gear (PPG), training them, or having a risk management plan. It also requires having a leadership culture that puts safety first to ensure a happy and safe work environment and implementing these values for the benefit of all stakeholders.
Project Management, Planning & Engineering
Successful shipbuilding projects require a shipyard with an experienced and driven project management team. Tug shipbuilding is a complex project that requires the leadership of teams to meet project goals within the constraints of time, cost and quality. The shipyard with an experienced team will be able to work closely to achieve these goals. The project manager will apply various processes, knowledge and experience to overcome many challenges during the project to achieve a successful result.
Advanced shipyards have project planning teams and digital systems that integrate their data management across the various departments. Project planning software used in combination with engineering software that provides a 3D model of the tug’s thousands of components, together with digital labour management systems will be used to plan and track the progress of the vessel’s construction, commissioning and delivery. Check your builder uses these advanced shipbuilding systems because it will ensure you are working with the best.
How can Grandweld Shipyards help you
Grandweld Shipyards is a company with decades of expertise in the field of vessel manufacturing and repair. We are a leading tug boat builder, with a renowned reputation for building world-leading tug designs. Our experience allows us to understand and convey a wider perspective to the clients.
Contact us for a discussion on the tug that will fulfill your needs and we will happily share our expertise and experience. For more information about our tug boat building service or any other queries regarding tug boats, you can get in touch with Grandweld Shipyards.