Mexico returns to shipbuilding with keel laying for new tugboat

Keel Laying 1024x614

The following is the text of a news release from Talleres Navales del Golfo:

(VERACRUZ, Mexico) — On May 26, Talleres Navales del Golfo announced the reactivation of the Mexican shipbuilding industry in the keel laying ceremony of the azimuth tugboat C-130 for Pemex.

In this historic event (with) Semar, Pemex, Bureau Veritas and Astilleros Armon among others, it was inaugurated by TNG General Manager Jose Antonio Sardina, who ensured that the experience of company staff is equal to the experience of the best shipyards in the world. Some minutes after, Sardina’s words were supported by Jose Manuel Carrera, PMI’s general director, who said, “Mexico can build ships, repair and maintain vessels of all drafts and technologies."

TNG is the first Mexican shipyard to start the shipbuilding of one of the seven tugs assigned to Mexico by Semar and Pemex. It leads the Mexican shipbuilding industry by having the mission of cutting the steel plates that will be used in these seven vessels, and most important, the full shipbuilding of four tugboats assigned to TNG. The project will also include the shotblasting, shop primer and the bevel of more than 1,500 steel plates with a weight close to 3,000 tons.

By June 2015, TNG will deliver the azimuth tugboat C-130 to Pemex, which will have a length of 31.5m and breadth of 11.2m, with pull power of 50 tons, a draft of 4.2m and 12 knots of speed. These tugboats were designed especially to do operations at sea and port, such as:
    •    Maneuvers of towage at port and coastal areas.
    •    Towing at sea.
    •    Firefight services with foam water pump.
    •    Anti-pollution works with dispersant spraying.
    •    Rescue work.
    •    Hydrocarbons collection jobs.

At the end, Talleres Navales del Golfo’s general manager added, “In the shipbuilding industry, the keel is the most important piece of a vessel structure, I’m sure that this big moment represents the keel of a new era for TNG and Mexico."

By Professional Mariner Staff