New tugboats starts trip from Vietnam

Bunbury’s newest tugboat has started the long journey from Vietnam and is expected to berth in the city by mid-month.

The $9 million boat named Cape Leeuwin started the 7000km trip from Dutch company Damen’s workshop a week ago.

There are no Australian companies that build tugboats, according to the Southern Ports Authority.

The more than 250-tonne boat will join the already operational Cape Naturaliste tugboat, which has been based in Bunbury since the start of the year.

The tugboats are 50 per cent more powerful than the now retired 16-year-old vessels being replaced.