The handing over ceremony of 32-tonne Bollard Pull tug indigenously built for Pakistan Navy was held at Karachi Shipyard on Wednesday, read a statement issued by the military media wing.

Addressing a gathering of senior military and civil officials, Vice Admiral Kaleem Shaukat said, “It is indeed a clear manifestation of the vision of navy to pursue self-reliance in the field of ship construction.”

The 32-tonne tug has a 34-metre overall length with a displacement of 481 tonnes, having a maximum speed of 12 knots, said Pakistan Navy.

The newly commissioned tug is said to be fitted with a very robust fendering arrangement for "all round tugging operation of almost all sizes of ships and crafts of Pakistan Navy".

Vice Admiral Shaukat said that inception of CPEC project has created many opportunities for the growth of local industries. “Public sector industries like shipyard should avail this opportunity and help create more jobs and play their role in national development,” the official added.