Keel Laying Ceremony of Third Medium-Sized Tugboat for Royal Thai Navy

15 September 2021

Robert Allan Ramparts 3200 class Tug (photos : RTN)

On 13 September 2021 at 12.30, Admiral Chatchai Sriworakhan, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy Presided over the keel-laying ceremony of medium-sized tug boats at the shipyard of Asian Marine Services Public Company Limited, Phra Samut Chedi District. Samut Prakan Province, with Vice Admiral Wuttichai Saisathien, Deputy Chief of Staff As the chairman of the project to procure medium-sized tug boats welcome and said a report on the objectives of this ship procurement.

According to the Naval Strategy 2015 - 2024 combat power structure has set a tugboat for use in civil service in various areas, there are currently 6 tug boats in service and there is a plan to retire 1 ship, leaving only 5 tug boats for government use. The Navy, therefore, has a need to procure medium-sized tugboats to replace them which the towing boat this medium size. This will provide enough tugboats to support large ships and submarines that the Navy will be commissioned into service by 2024.

The construction of this medium-sized tugboat The Navy has carried out procurements using a selective method from a domestic shipyard company to support the domestic shipbuilding industry to be strong,  both in terms of the body, knowledge and help reduce dependency on foreign countries. This will lead to sustainable self-reliance according to the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej Maha Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great.

This medium-sized tugboat was built using the Ramparts 3200 CLASS Tug as the base model by developing systems and components to support operational needs which will have the ability to support large ships and Navy submarines in entering and leaving the port, removing oil spills in the sea. Firefighting ships in the base area, ports, as well as supporting other missions as assigned effectively which the said procurement is orderly, transparent, fair, and in accordance with the Government Procurement and Supplies Management Act 2017 with a delivery date within 540 days after the date of signing the contract or within 16 November 2022.

For medium-sized tugboats that have a keel-laying ceremony today, there is a unique feature that is important is the length of the ship 31.5 meters in width. The hull is 12.6 meters, the water depth is 4.5 meters, the maximum continuous speed at the full displacement is 12.1 knots, the room for 20 personnel, there is enough space to store food supplies and freshwater systems for continuous operations at sea for 3 days, operating distance of not less than 2,500 nautical miles at a speed of 8 knots at full displacement and with a pulling force of not less than 55 metric tons.

On this occasion, the Naval Commander said in honor of the ceremony with the main idea stating “According to the Royal Thai Navy, the acquisition of a medium-sized tugboat by hiring an Asian Marine Services Public Company Limited as a shipbuilding operator to be able to fulfill the mission of the Navy effectively by performing the various steps successfully, respectively. Until today, the important step is to place the keel. which I have confidence in the capability and experience of Asian Marine Services Public Company Limited that will be able to create this medium-sized tugboat to be successful in all respects.”

As part of the keel-laying ceremony of Thai and foreign ships, it is an important ritual and has continued for a long time since ancient times. This is the starting point for building a ship that will bring about happiness and victory and lasting prosperity for the ship.

(PR Thai Navy)