Rio Tinto has contracted the Maritime Simulation and Resource Centre (MSRC) to conduct a series of berthing and unberthing manoeuvers aimed at assessing the feasibility, for the forward tug, to perform its work safely and without any risk of grounding. The scope of the contract also included drafting a report including comments and recommendations.

The study was conducted with three navigation bridges; one pilot from the CLSLP was responsible for all simulations and two Rio Tinto tug masters were at the controls of the tugs.

The series of manoeuvers took place on June 15, 2020, at the MSRCs’ facilities. Three different ships were used for the simulations and the two Z-Drive propulsion tugs had a 60-ton bollard pull.