Neil Edwards News

The Pilbara Apollo, the latest addition to the RAstar 3200 escort tug series was delivered to its owners, Rio Tinto Ltd., earlier this year. The vessel was constructed at Uzmar Shipbuilding Industry Co. in Turkey and will operate at Rio Tinto’s iron ore export facilities at Cape Lambert (Port Walcott) and Dampier, Australia. The Pilbara Apollo is the first of six new RAstar 3200 tugs to be delivered to Rio Tinto as part of this contract. The tugs will assist very large ore carriers in berthing and un-berthing at exposed, open water berths in severe wind and wave conditions.

In late December, 2008 Shipco Marine Constructors Ltd. of Whangarei, New Zealand delivered the first of two new terminal support tugs, the Pilbara Thor to the Owners, Rio Tinto of Australia for service at the Pilbara ore terminal near Dampier, Australia. The vessel entered service in January. The Pilbara Thor is the latest of the RAmparts 3200 Class tugs to be built to this widely accepted design from Robert Allan Ltd., Naval Architects of Vancouver, B.C. Robert Allan Ltd. worked with the Owner's representatives, Trevor Cosh of Trevor Cosh and Associates Pty Ltd.