Strategic Marine Wins Tug Deal

Friday, May 16, 2008

Western Australian shipbuilder Strategic Marine has broken new ground by winning a contract to build a 23.9m new generation compact tug – the first tugboat signing in the company’s history.

The vessel, which has a 60 ton bollard pull, has been ordered by the Port of Napier – another breakthrough since the Port becomes Strategic Marine’s first New Zealand client.
The steel vessel, which will have a deadweight of 105 tons and a free-running speed of 12 knots, will be powered by a Voith Water Tractor. Strategic Marine, which has built its reputation on high performance aluminum patrol boats and offshore service vessels, won its first contract to build steel-hulled vessels earlier this year from Singapore’s Marfield Limited.
The new generation tug and the Marfield order for two 143m steel dive support vessels will be constructed at Strategic Marine’s new 136,500sqm Vietnamese shipyard located in Vung Tau, a facility fully equipped to build steel boats.
The yard is also currently building the base pontoon for the $62 million Floating Dry Dock on order from the Australian Marine Complex at Henderson in Western Australia, four 20m landing craft, and 40 12m offshore service vessels.
Vietnam Managing Director Mark Schiller said the company was delighted to reach yet another milestone in its business plan.
“This latest project will enable us to develop our reputation in the tugboat market, which is something that our Board of Directors committed to achieving in 2008,” Mr Schiller said.
Strategic Marine’s order book currently stands at more than $200 million, with most of those orders won in the past 18 months, the majority of them from overseas.