Pacific Towing (PacTow) has taken delivery of PACIFIC RESPONDER and PACIFIC RESOLUTE, two state-of-the-art ASD tugs representing a PGK70 million investment in enhanced marine towage capability. Constructed in Zhenjiang, China, the vessels mark a significant milestone in PacTow’s fleet modernisation program and reinforce its position as Melanesia’s leading provider of marine services.
PACIFIC RESPONDER departed China on 11 October and is currently en route to Port Moresby, where she will be deployed primarily in harbour towage operations. PACIFIC RESOLUTE was delivered on 14 October and is expected to depart China by 22 October for Lae, where she will similarly support harbour towage activities.
With bollard pulls of 70 and 67 tonnes respectively, the vessels are the most powerful tugs in the PacTow fleet. Equipped with advanced firefighting systems, high-capacity winches and modern ASD propulsion technology, they are capable of supporting complex harbour towage, salvage operations, emergency response and long-distance asset towage.
The addition of these vessels significantly enhances PacTow’s operational capability, enabling the company to support larger vessels calling into PNG, meet the demanding requirements of the oil and gas sector, and pursue higher-value regional and international opportunities.
For customers, the investment delivers a safer, stronger and more reliable service offering through increased fleet capability, improved asset availability, enhanced harbour towage coverage and greater emergency response capacity.