Russia's most powerful

Holding the title as world’s most powerful tug(s) for a time, it was the Russians again. The two Finnish built tug/icebreakers, Nikolay Chiker and Fotiy Krylov are indeed impressive ships. Produced by Hollming Oy in Rauma in 1989, with four Wartsila main engines producing 24,480 bhp these tugs have an advertised bollard pull of 250 tonnes. They are also fitted to support divers, have helicopter landing pads, firefighting (and drenching) systems and extra accommodation for 51 crew and 21 supernumaries to support salvage or rescue operations in remote locations. They are ice class and can work in temperatures to -25 degrees C.
Owned by Sovfracht, they were operated by Tsavliris Russ, a sort of joint venture with Tsavliris Towing & Salvage of Greece/London. There was considerable dispute at one time over ownership of Fotiy Krylov, when the ship was sold to Tsvalirtis by one Russian agency and contested by the Russian government. The tug was renamed Tsavliris Giant , but in the end the Russian government won, the name reverted but continued with the charter arrangement.
Nikolay Chiker:

Fotiy Krylov:

Absent from these tugs are the huge derricks that the previous large tugs carried. Powerful hydraulic knuckle boom cranes replaced the derricks.
The two tugs were in Halifax arrived in Halifax July 26, 2001 towing the drilling rig Eirik Raude from Pascagoula. Since that time the Nikolay Chiker has reverted to Russian naval control, and Fotiy Krylov is on charter to Tsavliris.