ON TAXI AWAY FROM GATE; RPTR'S WINGTIP CONTACTS GND EQUIP.

Narrative

THE ACFT WAS PARKED ON THE RAMP RIGHT NEXT TO A TUG. WHEN WE STARTED TO TAXI OUT; I HAD COMPLETED THE 'AFTER ENG START/BEFORE TAXI' CHKLIST AND LOOKED OUTSIDE TO MAKE SURE THE AREA WAS CLR. I NOTICED THE PROX OF THE TUG AND INFORMED MY CAPT TO WATCH OUT FOR IT AND GO SLOWLY. HE PROCEEDED SLOWLY AS THE RAMP AGENT FLAGGED US OUT. JUST AS WE GOT REAL CLOSE TO THE TUG; I SAID 'STOP' TO MY CAPT AND IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS WE FELT A SLIGHT BUMP. WE BOTH THOUGHT IT WAS AS CHOCK SINCE THE RAMP AGENT CONTINUED TO FLAG US ON. MY CAPT CONTINUED AND ENDED UP TAKING OFF THE WINGTIP OF THE ACFT (JUST THE PLASTIC CASING AND LIGHTS). WE PERFORMED THE ENG SHUTDOWN AND EVACUATED IN PAX. THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF WE HAD THE TUG REMOVED BEFORE WE EVEN TRIED TO TAXI. THE COMPANY HAS A HABIT OF PARKING EQUIP VERY CLOSE TO THE ACFT. NORMALLY WE ARE ABLE TO TAXI OUT SLOWLY AND TURN TIGHTLY ENOUGH IF WE HAVE PWR STEERING; WHICH WE DID IN THIS PARTICULAR ACFT. THE CAPT WAS IN A TIGHT TURN WHEN WE CLIPPED THE WINGTIP AND IT HAD BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO JUDGE THE DISTANCE FROM THAT ANGLE FROM INSIDE THE COCKPIT.