#Product Trends
Marine Propulsion Units to Power Tugboat
The Opportunity
New Caledonia has a long history of mining in the Pacific Islands and mining
continues to be a major contributor to New Caledonian''s economy. The islands
contain approximately 7 million tons of nickel, which represents approximately 10%
of the world''s nickel reserves. Excluding tourism, mining and derived metallurgical
products represent approximately 97% of the total value of exports.
The mining trade prompted the development of specialized industrial harbors
throughout the region because sea transport is critical to opening up New
Caledonia´s mining industry to the rest of the world.
The Solution
Under control of Vietnamese VIRES and Bureau VERITAS, the Vuot Song Shipyard in Vietnam built a tug boat for export to New Caledonia named “Taabya.” Two of Dresser-Rand''s Guascor® marine propulsion units, each equipped with one F180TASP,
450 horsepower engine, operate in continuous duty. The tugboat will have a bollard towing of 16 T for a maximum speed of 12 knots and will be used to transport nickel in New Caledonia.