Redwise completed the safe delivery of the latest generation ART85-32 from Cheoy Lee Shipyards in Hong Kong to Port Hedland in the Pilbara, Australia, both very familiar territory for Redwise.

The latest two vessels FMG SAWFISH and FMG SANDTIGER ordered and operated by Kotug International, will operate long term at Port Hedland, the iron ore port in the Pilbara shipping some 519 million tonnes of cargo last year. These ART85-32 rotor tugs will operate with seven other Rotor Tugs assisting bulk carriers for Fortescue Metals Group.

The first of the two vessels sailed at economic speed from Cheoy Lee’s Hong Kong shipyard, following hull cleaning to meet the strict Australian requirements on to the South China Sea and Indonesian waters to Port Hedland. The second followed shortly after and sailed via the Sulu Sea and Strait Makassar, both choosing the best weather option at the time of transit. Equipped with three Caterpillar main engines geared to three Schottel thrusters and Ibercisa escort winches. Transit times were resp. 14 and 11 days to meet client requirements.

 Next to the two Rotor Tugs, two Uzmar built ASD tugs were delivered for repeat customer Svitzer Australia. The Svitzer Redhead to Fremantle, while the Svitzer Ruby continued on through the Great Australian Bight to Port Kembla. These RAstars 3200 tugs designed by Robert Allen of Vancouver are each equipped with two Caterpillar main engines geared to Ulstein thrusters and sailed together from Izmit up to Fremantle, carrying four armed security guards each for the HRA passage in the Indian Ocean. They received a very warm welcome arriving at their new homeports. Like the two tugs from Hong Kong, these two received a full hull cleaning prior to departure and sailed likewise from very familiar territory for Redwise, having delivered a large number of Uzmar built tugs around the world including Rio Tinto’s 7 newbuildings and a substantial number to Colombia.