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Cheoy Lee News

18 Jun 2025

RAstar Tug Pair Delivered, Set Sail for Mexico

Image courtesy Robert Allan Ltd.

Cheoy Lee Shipyards recently delivered two RAstar 3200-CL tugs bound for Coatzacoalcos, Mexico. CMM Azteca and CMM Mexico will sail on their own bottom all the way from Hong Kong and begin operations in Mexico as part of Compania Maritima Mexicana SA DE CV’s fleet (an affiliate company of Boluda Towage).These two tugs are the latest deliveries in the RAstar 3200-CL series, which Cheoy Lee has been building since 2013. In 12 years Cheoy Lee has built and delivered 29 tugs to this design.Particulars of the RAstar 3200-CL series escort tugs are:Length overall: 32.0 mBeam


15 Apr 2025

Incat Crowther-Designed CTV Ready to Set Sail for Japanese Operator

(Credit: Incat Crowther)

Japanese operator Tokyo Kisen has taken delivery of the first of two new bespoke crew transfer vessels (CTVs), designed by Incat Crowther, which will be put to service Japan’s growing offshore wind energy sector.Constructed by Cheoy Lee shipyard in China, the first 26.4-meter-long vessel completed sea trials in late 2024.The two ClassNK 26-metre catamaran CTVs have been developed with Tokyo Kisen to comply with strict local regulations.The design of the vessels has been future-proofed


22 Nov 2024

Hybrid Ferry Vessels Delivered in Hong Kong

© INCAT CROWTHER

Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry Limited (HKKF) took delivery of two new hybrid ferries, designed by Incat Crowther and built by Hong Kong-based Cheoy Lee Shipyards. The 40-m ferries can transport up to 450 passengers and will service the busy commuter routes between Hong Kong and the islands of Lamma Island, Peng Chau, and Hei Ling Chau. Uniquely, one of the new ferries sports a carbon hull, while all others in the series of a nine vessel order will be aluminum hulls.Each vessel will


04 Oct 2024

New Tug Delivered to KST Maritime in Singapore

(Photo: Robert Allan, Ltd.)

KST Dragon, a RAmparts 2500-CL ship handling and escort tug, arrived in her home port of Singapore on September 11, 2024. The vessel will soon commence operations for KST Maritime, a subsidiary of Italian parent company MedTug SpA.The RAmparts 2500-CL design was developed by Canadian naval architecture firm Robert Allan, Ltd. in collaboration with builder, Cheoy Lee Shipyards of Hong Kong, and has been a successful series since 2018. KST Dragon is the first of two RAmparts 2500


28 Mar 2024

New Tug Delivered to Mongla Port Authority

The Mongla Port Authority in Bangladesh has taken delivery of its new tug, M.T. Joymoni.The newbuild is a RAmparts 3200-CL designed by Canada's Robert Allan Ltd. and built by Cheoy Lee Shipyards, in China.The RAmparts 3200-CL was designed by Robert Allan Ltd. in 2008 exclusively for Cheoy Lee Shipyards, with the first tug, Ocean Pioneer, delivered to Ocean Sparkle in India in 2011. Based on the RAmparts series, the hull form was developed to provide a high performance, multi-function tug in a shallow draft configuration, with bollard pull of up to 85 tonnes, the designer said.M.T.

07 Nov 2023

New Hybrid-drive Tug is First on South America’s West Coast

(Photo: SCHOTTEL)

The PSA Wayra ASD tug will soon enter service for PSA Marine Peru, a wholly owned subsidiary of PSA Marine (Pte) Ltd, as the first tug with a hybrid drive system on South America’s west coast. Hong Kong-based Cheoy Lee Shipyards has built the PSA Wayra on the RAmparts 2400W design from Robert Allan Ltd. The tug is propelled by SCHOTTEL RudderPropellers featuring patented SYDRIVE-M technology. This mechanical hybrid solution without the costly complexity of common hybrid technology reduces both the vessel’s maintenance costs and its fuel consumption.

07 Jun 2022

New Harbor Tugs Delivered to Eastland Group in New Zealand

Eastland Group has taken delivery of two new harbor tugs, Maki and Ika Nui, for operations in Tairāwhiti (Gisborne), New Zealand.The 21.4-meter-long, 273 GT newbuilds are RAmparts 2100-CL tugs designed by Canada's Robert Allan Ltd. and constructed at Cheoy Lee Shipyards in China. Each vessel has a 11-meter beam (molded), 4.4-meter depth (least molded) and maximum navigational draft of 4.5 meters.The Maki (orca) and Ika Nui (big fish) names were announced in the summer of 2021 after suggestions from the public.

10 Feb 2022

PSA Marine Peru Taps Schottel for Hybrid Drive Solution

Image courtesy Schottel

PSA Marine Peru, a wholly owned subsidiary of PSA Marine (Pte) Ltd,. contracted Cheoy Lee Shipyards in Hong Kong for equipping one newly built tug with Schottel RudderPropellers featuring the patented SYDRIVE-M technology. SYDRIVE-M is designed to ensure lower maintenance costs and less fuel consumption, enabling PSA Marine Peru to offer emission-reduced towing services in Peruvian ports. The RAmparts 2400W design vessel is scheduled to enter service in 2023.“In PSA Marine Peru


19 Nov 2021

First RAstar 2800-CL ASD Escort Tug Delivered

(Photo: Robert Allan Ltd.)

Svitzer Suez 1, the first RAstar 2800-CL ASD escort tug, has been delivered to Svitzer Egypt LLC by Cheoy Lee Shipyards and will soon commence operations in the Suez Canal. Svitzer are the first owners of this new escort tug design and a further nine tugs to this design have already been ordered with Cheoy Lee.The RAstar 2800-CL design started with a “blank sheet of paper”, according to naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd., who said one of the primary goals of the design was to make it extremely flexible allowing for various propulsion machinery options


21 Oct 2021

BHP Charters Two KOTUG Tugs for Port Hedland Work

Credit: KOTUG

Australian mining giant BHP has taken two KOTUG's tugs on long-term charters to support bulk carrier loadings at Port Hedland, Australia.KOTUG, a Dutch marine services and towage company, said Thursday, its new build Rotortugs RT Imperieuse and RT Clerke had arrived in Port Hedland.Both 32m ART80-32 tugs, built at Cheoy Lee Shipyard, have three Caterpillar main engines, that deliver a total output of 5,295kW each, 13 knots sailing speed, and 80 tons bollard pull power. They are equipped with advanced DMT Escort Winches.

17 Aug 2021

Suez Canal Authority Adds Two More Tugs

(Photo: Svitzer)

Maersk's towage arm Svitzer announced it has extended its current contract with the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) to include two additional tugs amid increasing traffic volumes.The two tugs are +70 tonnes bollard pull newbuilds delivered from the Cheoy Lee Shipyard in China and will be manned by all Egyptian crews. The tugs are expected to enter service out of Port Suez by the Red Sea entrance to the Canal in the fourth quarter of 2021, Svitzer said.Svitzer has been providing towage


14 Aug 2020

Cheoy Lee Delivers First of Two New Tugs for Yiu Lian Dockyards

Hai Kun (Photo: Robert Allan Ltd.)

The first tug of a two vessel contract, Hai Kun, built by Cheoy Lee Shipyards, was delivered to Yiu Lian Dockyards Ltd., Hong Kong on July 15, 2020.This delivery marks the 21st vessel built and delivered by Cheoy Lee of the Robert Allan Ltd. RAstar 3200-CL design. Unique modifications were implemented to this hull to accommodate both the owner’s selected Niigata propulsion package and the required escort capability of the tug. This included a redesign of the skeg and simulations


08 Jun 2020

Cheoy Lee Building WFSV Pair for Japanese Wind Farms

(Image: BMT)

Currently under construction at Cheoy Lee Shipyards' Hin Lee (Zhuhai) Shipyard facility are two 27-meter wind farm support vessels (WFSV) to support operations and maintenance of the Akita and Noshiro offshore wind farms, in the Akita Prefecture region of Japan.The first WFSV is set to be launched in December this year, with the delivery to the operator Akita Offshore Wind Corporation (AOW) in early 2021.AOW's Akita Noshiro Offshore Wind Farm Project is the first large-scale commercial


04 Dec 2019

TPA: SCHOTTEL Chosen for Tugboat Propulsion

Photo: SCHOTTEL

SCHOTTEL has secured a contract with Cheoy Lee Shipyards, Hong Kong, for the supply of propulsion units for a total of four azimuth stern drive (ASD) tugs. Each of the new vessels ordered by Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) will be equipped with two SCHOTTEL Rudderpropellers.Three of the four tugs will each be equipped with a pair of SCHOTTEL Rudderpropellers type SRP 460 featuring fixed-pitch propellers measuring 2.60 m in diameter and each driven by a 2,210 kW diesel engine at 750 rpm. This configuration will enable a bollard pull of 70 tonnes.

05 Jul 2019

Two RAstar 3200 Vessels Christened in HK

Hongkong Salvage & Towage, a division of HUD Group, has added two new high-performance tugs to their fleet.A press release from Robert Allan Ltd.(RAL) said that RAstar 3200 vessels, designed by RAL, which are named MAI PO and SUNG KONG, are the most powerful harbor tugs operating in Hong Kong harbour.The tugs were built by Cheoy Lee Shipyards and join four other Robert Allan Ltd. designs, also built by Cheoy Lee, it said."The RAstar escort/offshore terminal tug designation is reserved for a distinctive class of very high-performance ASD tugs," claimed RAL.The tugs are designed and built in accordance with Lloyd’s Register of Shipping.The tugs exceeded the Owner’s requirements at sea trials


01 Mar 2019

RAstar 3200 Tugs Dazzle at Blessing Ceremony

Display of SST Orca’s fi-fi 1 classed off-ship fire-fighting system (Photo courtesy of BC Shipping News)

On February 13, the two new RAstar 3200 escort tugs SST Grizzly and SST Orca for SAAM SMIT TOWAGE CANADA Inc. (SST Canada) were the toasts of a blessing ceremony in Vancouver Harbor.Designed by Robert Allan Ltd and built at Cheoy Lee Shipyards, these two significant additions to the SST Canada fleet were showcased to guests aboard the luxury harbor cruising vessel Pacific Yacht. Distinguished guests for the evening included local First Nations leaders, valued customers and trusted suppliers


16 Dec 2018

Cheoy Lee Shipyards Delivers Tug Duo

Florida-based Cheoy Lee Shipyards have delivered two more Z-Tech tugs, PSA Polaris and PSA Capella, to PSA Marine, Singapore. This time was the Z-Tech 5000 version with newly re-styled deckhouse and wheelhouse in addition to its already unique appearance. As the joint-developer of the original Z-Tech concept, PSA Marine currently operates twelve Z-Tech tugs including three Z-Tech 7000 and nine Z-Tech 2800 tugs.The design, a combination of the best operational characteristics of both Z-drive tractor tugs and azimuthing stern-drive tugs, was developed by Robert Allan Ltd. in response to a challenge raised by PSA Marine back in 2002.The year after the first Z-Tech design was delivered


11 Oct 2018

Saam Smit Towage Adds Escort Tug Duo

Saam Smit Towage Canada (SST Canada) has purchased two new RAstar 3200 escort tugs from Hong Kong’s Cheoy Lee Shipyards.SST Grizzly and SST Orca, which are designed by Robert Allan Ltd, has departed Cheoy Lee’s Hin Lee shipyard, will arrive Vancouver in early November of this year.The two new escort-rated tugs will join SST Canada’s fleet and begin operations in the southern waters of British Columbia. SST Canada is a joint venture partnership between Boskalis of the Netherlands and Saam S.A of Chile.According to a press release from Robert Allan, these tugs will be capable of safely performing all ship-handling roles, including berthing


20 Aug 2018

New Tug Delivered for Kenya Ports Authority

(Photo: Robert Allan Ltd.)

A new tug, Eugene, constructed by Cheoy Lee Shipyards, Hong Kong, has been delivered to its owners Kenya Ports Authority, Mombasa, Kenya.The new tug, a RAstar 3200 designed by Robert Allan Ltd., has the following principal particulars:Length overall: 32 mBeam, molded: 12.8 mDepth, molded (hull): 5.37 mMaximum draft: 5.8 mEugene is classed and built according to the following Lloyd’s Register of Shipping notation: ✠100A1, Escort Tug, ✠LMC, UMS, Fire-Fighting Ship 1 with Water Spray


11 Jul 2018

Njord Offshore Orders Crew Transfer Duo

(Image: BMT)

BMT said it has secured a contract to provide Njord Offshore with two 23m crew transfer vessels (CTV).The contract, which follows the recent launch of 27m CTVs Njord Zenith and Njord Zephyr designed by BMT and built by Cheoy Lee Shipyards in China, marks the first mid-range CTV BMT has designed.Jago Lawless, Technical Director at BMT, said, “We have refined the hull design based on real data we have taken from our existing 26m and 21m vessels that are currently operating throughout Europe.

09 Apr 2018

Njord Offshore’s New Crew Transfer Vessel Completes Sea Trials

Njord Zenith is the first of two new crew transfer vessels for Njord Offshore (Photo: BMT)

The first in a series of two new 27-meter crew transfer vessels (CTV) designed by BMT for Njord Offshore has completed sea trials, reaching a top speed of 27 knots. The new vessel, Njord Zenith, was built by Cheoy Lee Shipyards in China.Jago Lawless, Technical Director at BMT explains: “We have a number of 26m CTV vessels operating that have been designed and built in accordance with Lloyd’s Register’s rules for Special Service Craft and the UK code for High Speed Offshore Service Craft. This 27m vessel however, is the first CTV designed by BMT that utilizes a highly efficient Z-bow hull form.

06 Dec 2017

Robert Allan Delivers Two RAmparts 3200 CL Tugs to Ocean Sparkle

In 2011, Ocean Pioneer and Ocean Perfect, the first two RAmparts 3200 CL tugs developed by Robert Allan exclusively for Cheoy Lee Shipyards, Hong Kong were delivered to Ocean Sparkle Limited, the largest Indian tug owning and operating company with more than 80 tugboats under its fleet. Since then, 33 sister tugs of this CL series have been constructed by the same builder for their clients around the world. It is very rewarding to see Ocean Sparkle Limited returned to Cheoy Lee Shipyards, ordering two more units of the same series of this constantly improving design from this highly experienced and competent shipbuilder. The two newly built tugs, Ocean Leader and Ocean Legacy left Hong Kong for their home port of Mumbai recently.

06 Dec 2017

RAscal 1600 Mooring Launch EIMEO

The Robert Allan designed RAscal 1600 mooring launch EIMEO has been completed by Cheoy Lee Shipyards in Hong Kong and is on its way to the east coast of Australia on a heavy lift ship. The launch was built for Half-Tide Marine of Mackay in Queensland, Australia who will employ it at the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal, south of Mackay. The terminal, one of the largest coal terminals the world, has a ship loading facility some three kilometres off the east coast suitable for up to four 200,000 dwt bulk carriers. Although protected by the Great Barrier Reef, the fetch to the reef is enough that a considerable chop can develop which is not a problem for the bulk carriers but presents an operating challenge for a small line boat trying to pick up and deliver heavy ship’s hawsers.