Abstract:
Bintulu Port is well-known as a World Class LNG port, which strategically located
along the busy sea trade between the Far East and Europe trade in North-east Coast
Sarawak which located at 03 degree 16 minutes North and 113 degree 04 minute
East (Bintulu Port Authority, 2011 ). Due to the increasing in size of vessels and the
number of port calls, it is imperative to know and determine the ideal combined total
bollard pull capabilities of tugboat needed in Bintulu Port in order to ensure safe and
efficient ship handling operation. The study will also attempt to determine the most
economic type of tugboat amongst the type used in Bintulu Port. The total bollard
pull required to compensate internal and external force were calculated by using the
formulae used in OCIMF publication. The data of the wind and wave data were
obtained from Malaysian Meteorological Department, while the current force data
within the port area was obtained from the Bintulu Port Authority. The data for
tugboats particular, Monthly Boat Utilization Records, and towage charges were
obtained from Bintulu Port's operator. The average operation time taken between the
Tractor-tug (Voith-Schneider Propeller) and Azimuth Stern Drive tug (Schottel
Rudder Propeller), the times are I hour 31 minutes and 1 hour 27 minutes
respectively for LNG carrier departure handling operation. For LNG carrier arrival
operation, average times taken are 2 hour and 25 minutes and 2 hour 22 minutes
respectively. Therefore, there is no significant difference for the operation time
between these two types of tugboat.
