Karachi Hosts Delivery Ceremony for Pakistan Navy’s BP Tug

Hand-over ceremony of 32 T Bollard Pull (BP) Tug, being built for the Pakistan Navy, was held at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW) on 10th February 2014.

Vice Admiral Shafqat Jawed HI(M), Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Admin) graced the occasion as Chief Guest. The ceremony was attended by high ranking officials / dignitaries from South Korea, Pakistan Navy, Government Authorities and KS&EW.

The tug has 34 meter  overall length with displacement of 481 tons. It has a maximal speed of 12 knots and Bollard Pull of 32 tons. It is fitted with a very robust fendering arrangement for all round tugging operations for almost all sizes of ships and craft.

On the occasion, the honourable Chief Guest said that self reliance has been at the fore front of NHQ’s policies and in this context, Pakistan Navy has always extended full support to Karachi Shipyard to make rapid progress towards indigenization. He appreciated the recent performance of KS&EW and said that 4 vessels including F 22P Frigate were delivered last year, meeting the contractual time line and quality standards.

During a welcoming address,  MD KS&EW, R/Adm Syed Hasan Nasir Shah SI(M)  said that KS&EW had already constructed various tugs ranging from 10 to 40 tons of Bollard Pull, but that the construction of this tug was distinct due to very robust design and state of art equipment and machinery to facilitate multi-purpose operations.

He  referred to the projects being undertaken at the shipyard, which include 17000 Tons Fleet Tanker, Fast Attack Missile Craft, one 12 tons bollard pull pusher tug and twenty two (22) bridge erection boats for Pak Army.

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Press Release, February 10, 2014; Image: Karachi Shipyard