BUTTERWORTH: Nautica Nova Shipbuilding and Engineering Sdn Bhd has signed a contract to build two tugboats for Multraship Towage & Salvage, a Dutch salvage and towage company. Managing director Chuah Chuan Yong said the company would deliver the first 33m tugboat at end-2007. 

“The second one will be delivered three months after the first delivery,” Chuah told a press conference recently. The company will spend RM46mil to RM60mil to construct the vessels but Chuah would not reveal how much would be paid for them.

“The tugboats are designed for unrestricted harbour towage, escort services, and sea-going towage. 

Chuah Chuan Yong showing a picture of The Carrousel tugboat

“They feature two great general electric 7FDM 12-cylinder diesel engines of 2,290kw at 1.05rpm each. 

“Each tugboat incorporates a large conventional ducted propeller at the stem, and an azimuthing bow thruster, which enables it to have exceptional manoeuvring capabilities in continuous ahead or astern operation,” he said.  Chuah said the company, which had a turnover of more than RM50mil last year, expected good business for the near future. 

“As long as oil price increases, we will continue to receive orders for vessels from the oil and gas industries. We are now moving into building vessels for the fishery and small passenger ship market segment,” he said. 

Nautica, which operates on a 13-acre site near Sungai Prai, employs 140 skilled workers, of whom 10% are engineers. 

“About 70% of our orders come from overseas,” he said.