HSL to Construct Two 60-Tonne Bollard Pull Tugs for Vizag Port Authority.

Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) achieved a significant milestone in India’s indigenous shipbuilding programme recently with the keel laying of the first 60-tonne Bollard Pull (BP) tug for the Visakhapatnam Port Authority. The shipyard also signed a contract for the construction of a second tug of the same class.

The 32.5-metre-long tugs are being designed and built entirely in India, in alignment with the objectives of Maritime India Vision 2030 and the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The vessels aim to modernise port infrastructure and boost operational efficiency.

Each tug, capable of a 60-tonne bollard pull, is engineered for demanding port operations, ensuring safer handling of vessels, faster turnaround times, and enhanced efficiency in the face of growing maritime traffic, HSL stated.

Bollard pull measures a tugboat’s maximum static pulling power, reflecting its ability to manoeuvre large ships at low speeds—a crucial capability for modern ports managing larger vessels and higher cargo volumes.