Download Newsletter 45 2012 - Towingline.com

13 th Volume, No. 45 Dated 11 November 2012 

BUYING, SALES, NEW BUILDING, RENAMING AND OTHER TUGS TOWING & OFFSHORE INDUSTRY NEWS 

TUGS & TOWING NEWS 

COMPASS DEPARTED WITH LOADED BARGE BOUND FOR BRAZIL 

The Sea going tug Compass departed last Saturday afternoon November 3, 2012 with the barge 

Osprey Trader from Hardinxveld-Giessendam; Netherlands, with on the deck of the barge the work 

platform Wavewalker 1. Assistance granted by the tug Gepke III, while the Broedertrouw XV 

assisted as standby tug. Destination of the transport is Suape Brazilians Outer Channel. The ' 

walking ' jack-up platform, Wavewalker 1 was built at Neptune Shipyard in Hardinxveld- 

Giessendam. The baptism of the Wavewalker 1 was performed on 21 September 2012. The work 

platform functioned as common platform with 4 legs, but also as a walking work platform with 8 

legs, which in elevated condition can walk safely in two directions. The fact that geotechnical 

explorations, drill-and other underwater activities can be performed from a stable platform, with the 

additional advantage that she can be moved without floating conditions, ensures that sea has less 

affect during working hours. Landfall Marine Contractors acted as contractor, with the Compass in 

charter also, for the transport from Rotterdam to Suape; Brazil (Source & Photo: LandfallEdwin 

Oostdijk) 

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13 TH VOLUME, NO. 45 DATED 11 NOVEMBER 2012 

ULUPINAR XV: AN UPDATE TO SANMAR’S SUCCESSFUL SERIES OF ASD 

TUGS 

The Ulupinar Series of compact ASD tugs has 

proven to be a very successful part of Sanmar’s 

portfolio, with 14 vessels in service; the first one 

delivered in 2007. After five years, the Sanmar 

board decided that some updates were needed and 

Robert Allan Ltd. was contracted to provide an 

updated design that would keep this compact tug 

at the forefront of the modern tug world. Minor 

cosmetic changes brought the look to a more 

modern standard, and improved outfit materials 

and method have increased crew comfort and 

livability, but the real changes were “under the 

hood”. Upgrades to the drive and propulsion 

system will ensure that this model has a long 

future ahead of it! The first vessel has been 

completed and has entered service with the Sanmar fleet. Particulars of the Ulupinar XV are as 

follows: Length overall: 24.4m; Beam, moulded, extreme: 9.15m; Depth, moulded (hull): 4.04m; 

Maximum draft (DWL): 5.1m. The vessel is classed by RINA for towing and firefighting operations. 

Tank capacities are as follows: Fuel Oil: 73m³; Fresh Water: 11m³; Foam: 2m³; Sewage: 2m³. On 

trials, Ulupinar XV met or exceeded all performance expectations, with the following results: 

Bollard Pull, ahead – 50 tonnes; Bollard Pull, astern – 48 tonnes; Free Running speed, ahead – 13 

knots; The upgraded main propulsion package comprises a pair of Caterpillar 3512C high speed 

marine diesel engines, each rated 1500 kW at 1800rpm, and each driving a Rolls Royce US 205 drive 

unit, with 2.2m fixed pitch propellers. The vessel has been outfitted to the highest standards for a 

crew of up to 6 people, with particular attention paid to the reduction of noise and vibrations levels. 

This has been accomplished by resiliently mounting the main equipment and judicious use of 

insulation. The wheelhouse is designed for maximum 

all-round visibility with forward and aft control 

stations providing maximum visibility to both fore and 

aft deck working areas. Deck machinery is comprised 

of a forward split drum ship handling winch, an aft 

towing winch, a quick release tow hook and 

retractable tow pins. Also featured are Palfinger deck 

crane and a 600m3 / hr Skum fire monitor. The 

electrical plant comprises 2 identical Perkins Sabre 

4.4TWGM diesel gen-sets, each with power output of 

74kW. Ship-handling fenders are comprised of a single 

row of “W” block fenders at the bow, with hollow “D” 

fender providing protection at the main deck sheer 

line. (Press Release Robert Allan Ltd.) 

MULTRASALVOR 3 JOINS MULTRASHIP FLEET 

Multraship continues to invest in its diverse fleet of towage and salvage vessels to help provide the 

highest levels of responsive service to the international shipping industry. We have just taken 

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delivery of Multrasalvor 3, a new Multi- 

Cat 2409 from Damen. It is a bigger and 

better version of our old Multrasalvor, 

which has now been sold. The new Multi 

Cat has two cranes, spud-poles, an Aframe 

and a double-drum winch. It is 

extremely versatile and capable of 

undertaking a diverse range of roles in the 

maritime contracting and salvage sectors. 

Multrasalvor 3 has currently assumed 

Multrasalvor’s role as a workboat in the 

London Gateway project on the Thames. 

This Multi-Cat 2409 was built by Damen Shipyards at Hardinxveld, under yard number 571628 

with call sign PCID, and homeport Terneuzen. She has a length of 23.33 mtrs, a beam of 9.00 mtrs 

and a draft of 2.00 mtrs. The two Caterpillar C32 ACERT DI-TA main engines performed a total 

engine output of 1,268 bkW (1724 bhp) a speed of 10 knots and a bollard pull of 23 tons. !(Source: 

Multraship; Photo: P., M. & Ph. van Luik - www.shipsoffterneuzen.nl ©) 

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LOSS OF FAITHFUL COULD SPELL 'BIG TROUBLE' 

The government tug boat Faithful has been 

out of action for over six weeks, the 

Bermuda Sun can reveal. And she will not 

be back in service for another three to four 

weeks as she awaits replacement parts. At 

present Government says its two other tug 

boats, Powerful and the Edward M Stowe, 

can service ships arriving in Bermuda 

‘adequately’. But shipping sources told the 

Sun having just two working tugs was like 

‘playing with fire’ because if one of the two 

working tugs was to break down arriving 

tankers and car carriers would be unable to 

dock in Bermuda. The warning comes just weeks since the tanker Butterfly was forced to wait 

offshore at Murray’s Anchorage for several days because Faithful and Edward M Stowe were both 

out of action. One source said: "We have not had a problem since Butterfly and so right now we are 

okay. "But if one of the remaining two tugs was to break down we would have big trouble. "We are 

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playing with fire." All fuel tankers that come into the oil docks in St George’s require two tugs to be 

on standby when they come alongside, as do the car carriers that come into Hamilton. A 

spokesperson for Marine and Ports said: "The repairs required relate to replacement of damaged 

piston heads in one of the Faithful’s engines. "There are three to four weeks remaining until the 

replacement parts (presently on order) arrive in Bermuda. Installation will take a few days after the 

parts arrive. Ships requiring the service of two tugs can be adequately serviced by the Powerful and 

Edward M. Stowe. The spokesman added: "The tug Faithful is over 20 years old and has maintained 

continuous Certificates of Class issued by Lloyd’s Register. "Faithful is in very good condition and 

continues to provide service beyond the 20-year capital expansion life span. "Despite the odd 

occasion the service provided by Faithful has been excellent. "Further, it is common practice to 

have one tug out of service for extended periods particularly when a vessel is undergoing periodic 

class surveys of the main propulsion unit or dry-docking surveys. "However, the Department of 

Marine and Ports schedules these surveys during the off season that runs from late October through 

mid-April." (Source: Bermuda Sun; Photo: J.McCluskey) 

ROBERT ALLAN DESIGN FOR AMAZON 

A thousand miles (1600 Kilometers) up 

the Amazon River the Port of Manaus 

has long attracted ocean going vessels. 

In the 19th Century they came for 

rubber, today the products are more 

varied with a duty-free zone generating 

additional commerce. Other ports along 

the Amazon may be for a single 

commodity such as soya beans. 

Recently the first of a series of Robert 

Allan Ltd, -designed ship docking tugs 

was launched from the Estaleiros Rio 

Negro Ltda. (ERIN Shipyard). The tug 

was launched into the waters of the Rio Negro at Manaus where it merges with the Solimões River to 

form the Amazon proper. This latest boat is a RAmparts25 with a 25-meter length and 10-meter 

beam. The hull has a moulded depth of 4.19 meters and, with the additional depth of the Z-drives 

and skeg, it has a 4.55-meter draft. Main propulsion for the new tug are a pair of Cummins Tier 2, 

Cummins QSK38-M engines each delivering 1400 HP at 1800 RPM to Rolls Royce US155 model 

azimuth drives. The new tug is fitted with a hawser winch and will be employed at the Itacoatiara 

Port of Hermosa Logistics about 260 km down river from Manaus. The vessel has tanks for 55000 

litres of fuel and 15000 litres of water. Accommodation is provided for a crew of up to eight people. 

(Source: Alan Haig-Brown; Photo: Estaleiros Rio Negro Ltda. (ERIN Shipyard) 

TT& O READER IS LOOKING FOR A PICTURE OF THE TUG GATLING 

Good afternoon, I have come across your website, newsletter by chance while searching on-line for 

any information concerning the above tug. The relevance is that my uncle, Kenneth Dawson, a 

merchant seaman seconded into the RN in the Hong Kong Dockland Defence Corps in 1941, was 

killed aboard this vessel when the Japanese attacked and bombed Hong Kong in December 1941. I 

have the attached information from other source, but I would really appreciate it if a photograph of 

this vessel could be found - I wondered if you or your membership may be able to help. History of 

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the tug Gatling 148 GRT, (88.5'x22.1'). 1937: Built by "Hong Kong & Whampoa Dockyard" at Hong 

Kong. 1937: delivered to the Admiralty (Royal Naval Armament Depot), Hong Kong. 1941: captured 

by Japanese at fall of Hong Kong. 1946: recovered by the UK Admiralty, renamed Boomerang. 

1951: To "H.P. Lenaghan Ltd" at Belfast, renamed Lenabay. (regd in Hong Kong). Is there someone 

who can help to find a picture of this tug, it will be very appreciated, thanks in advance Phil 

Dawson. 

BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF TOWAGE RIG NOBLE PAUL ROMANO 

The 2011 built Singaporean 

registered with call sign 

9V8180 offshore tug supply 

ship Posh Champion (Imo 

9514274) together with the 

2006 built Antigua and Barbuda 

registered with call sign V2BX5 

tug Magnus (Imo 9344966) 

towing the 1998 built Liberian 

flag semi-submersible oil rig 

Noble Paul Romano 65 miles 

East Offshore Malta on Monday 

5th November, 2012. The Posh 

Champion is owned by Condor Shipping Pte. Ltd.; Singapore and managed by Posh Fleet Services 

Pte. Ltd.; Singapore. She has a grt of 3,261 tons and a dwt of 3,174 tons and is classed by American 

Bureau of Shipping. The Magnus is owned by Magnus GmbH & Co. – Hamburg; Germany and 

managed by Harms Bergung Transport – Hamburg; Germany. She has a grt of 1,767 tons and a dwt 

of 1,494 tons and is classed Germanischer Lloyd. (Photo – Capt. Lawrence Dalli - 

www.maltashipphotos.com) 

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CLARA B WITH BARGE PAR 10002 FROM MALAYSIA TO URUGUAY 

CONTINUE 

This Saturday morning all 600 or so Cocos Islanders must have been brutally awakened by the 

presence of two ships plying their usually rather deserted waters. If the yearly tally of vessels 

averages 12, two ships in one day must amount to nothing less than a severe shock. One was a cargo 

vessel which had picked up survivors from 2 fishing boats destroyed by fire the day before, and 

secondly it was us approaching the South Cocos Islands, trying to find some shelter in order to go 

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alongside our tow to check the 

arrangements on the barge and to 

improve on the navigation lights. These 

lights had only been shining for a couple 

of hours each night as they had not been 

in direct (sun) light and subsequently had 

not had a chance to charge their batteries 

during daytime. After finding a little 

shelter to leeward of West Island we 

turned around and went alongside the 

barge; leaving our towline at its full 600 

meter hanging over the stern. With a 

water depth of 700 meters below the keel 

this posed no threat to rudders and 

propellers. Three of our agile young men; the chief engineer and the chief- and second officer 

boarded the barge and in no time the various jobs were completed and the towing gear checked. A 

few minutes later we were clear of our tow and on our way again to Cape Town, 8,000 kilometers 

down the road. Our efforts off the Cocos Islands proved to be hugely successful as the running lights 

of the barge are now visible all night, and our 'black shadow' has become a 'visible black shadow'. 

Once more it has been proven that there is very little that cannot be cured by a couple of meters of 

duct-tape. Today was another memorable day. Just after lunchtime we met the two 'Australian' tugs, 

also managed by our company, underway from Turkey to Dampier. One made a visual inspection of 

our tow from short distance and after giving the ok she resumed her voyage. Contrary to us, the 

crew of these ships can be certain to arrive before Christmas. We ourselves have also high hopes to 

make it, but adverse weather or unexpected problems could spoil it for us. This was the second time 

this trip that we came across another one of our deliveries; weeks ago, just after departure from 

Singapore, Svitzer Naiad overtook us on its way to another Australian port. At this moment we are 

underway to the place the two 'Australians' came from: Port Louis on the Island of Mauritius. 

However, our stay will be very limited indeed, as we are only scheduled to drift outside port limits 

in order to rectify some of the engine settings by a shore technician and possibly to take some fresh 

fruit and vegetables; and NOT to enjoy the shore facilities! We will not enter the port this time, as 

this would involve a lot of time, work and expenses as we cannot leave the barge at anchor on its 

own outside the harbor. Not even for a few hours. Our time will come in Cape Town in three 

weeks’ time! (Source: Capt. Bram van der Hout-Redwise; Photo Clara B berthed with barge at Port 

Louis) 

HORIZON SHIPBUILDING DELIVERS TOWBOATS 

Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc., Bayou La Batre, Ala., recently delivered the towboat M/V Eugenie J. 

Huger to Canal Barge Company of New Orleans, La. The Huger is 74 ft long with a 32 ft 6 in beam 

and an 8 ft 6 in draft. Designed by Marine Design, Inc. of Gulf Breeze, Florida, the vessel will push 

two fully loaded fuel barges at 10 knots. Its 2,000 horsepower is provided by Cummins K38M, tier II 

12 cylinder marine propulsion engines driving 74 inch Kahlenberg propellers through Reintjes WAF 

562 reverse reduction gears. Comfortable accommodations are provided for six personnel plus the 

captain. One unique feature is the fuel and fresh water stores for a vessel of this size, 30,000 and 

11,400 gallons, respectively. Ship's power is generated by two 85 kW Cummins generators. Delivery 

of the Huger came shortly after Horizon delivered the fourth in a series of 120 ft towboats to Florida 

Marine Transporters of Mandeville, La. The M/V Dale Artigue joins her sister ships, M/V's Capt. W. 

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D. Nunley, Capt. Kirby Dupuis and Brees 

in pushing cargoes throughout the inland 

waterways of the United States."The 

workmanship that our guys put into this 

boat is easily recognizable," said Ben 

Forrest, Horizon Project Manager. "These 

boats are real powerhouses and Horizon's 

craftsmen are to be commended for their 

hard work. Also, my hat is off to Florida 

Marine for investing in such a strong and 

robust vessel." The M/V Dale Artigue was 

designed by John Gilbert and is 120 ft long 

by 35 ft wide with a 10 ftdraft. The 

towboat is four-decked and is outfitted for 

service in areas with restricted overhead clearances and draft limitations. She is powered by two 

2,450 hp C280 Caterpillar engines coupled to Lufkin reduction gears. Ten inch shafts turn fiveblade, 

stainless steel wheels manufactured by Sound Propeller Services, Inc. that are mounted in 

kort nozzles for maximum efficiency. Auxiliary power is supplied by two 175 kW Caterpillar C9 

generators. Horizon has two additional 120 footers under production, as well as two more 140 

towboats. (Source: Marine Log) 

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RUSSIAN NAVY SORUM CLASS OCEAN GOING TUG MB-304 

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The Russian Navy Sorum Class 

(Project 745) Ocean Going Tug MB- 

304 leaving Grand Harbour, Malta 

on Sunday 28th October, 2012 

bound to Taranto, Italy to 

participate in IONEX 2012 Exercise. 

The tug has a length of 55.50 mtrs a 

beam of 12.60 mtrs and a draft of 

4.60 mtrs. The two diesel electric 

propulsions system to one shaft 

develops a total output of 3,000 shp. 

And a speed of 13.8 knots. She has a 

displacement of 1,656 tons. Belongs


to the General-purpose fleet tugs. A modified version is operated by the Ministry of Fisheries. 22 

units exist; up to 9 may be in reserve. Classification: Morskoy Buksir (MB); Seagoing Tug. Builders: 

Yaroslavl Zavod, built 1973. (Photo: Capt. Lawrence Dalli - www.maltashipphotos.com) 

LONDON VOYAGE CONTINUED. 

When I last gave an up-date on m/v 

London's voyage from Vlissingen to 

Morgan City LA the transport was still 

seeing heavy ocean swells rolling on us 

from the south west and were affecting 

progress as in that the effects of the swell 

on our two tows prevented us from 

running up the main engines and see us 

make good speed. Speed at some point 

came down to a mere 2.8 knots and while 

progress was further hampered when we 

had to decide to make due south to avoid 

further adverse weather conditions that at 

the time affected the ocean to the west of 

our position, as can be seen on the attached 

screenshot of our weather forecast. The dip to the south as can be seen on the chart picture worked 

out as planned, and when we reached the latitude of the Canary Islands weather conditions 

improved significantly and allowed the transport to commence routing to the Caribbean Sea as per 

the voyage planning. On the charts it may appear as being a bit of a detour sailing from the 

Netherlands to Morgan City via the Caribbean waters, however, the longer route in this case works 

out in being the faster as ever since our little struggle with the weather we're having "the pedal to 

the metal, to use a nice American expression, and are we doing speeds of well over 8 knots an hour, 

and are on this route avoiding less favorable weather conditions on the ocean. At the time of 

writing, November 8, 2012, we're in position 19.17.6 N 49.08.6 W, making course 245 degrees T and 

seeing our speed up to 8.4 knots/hour while 

wind and sea are following and the sun is up 

high there on a sky with few clouds only. 

Come Monday November 12 we expect to be 

passing in between Martinique and St. Lucia to 

engage the Caribbean waters, and from 

thereon we'll track south of Jamaica and onto 

the Yucatan Channel, expecting currents and 

weather to be following and helping us to 

arrive at Morgan City with the ETA we 

planned on. The ocean around is quiet, no 

other ships thought to sail the route we're 

taking, but we expect to be meeting more 

traffic once we get to off the Windward 

Islands, and are we looking forward to see the islands named here above as since we departed from 

Vlissingen on October 19 no land has been in sight since. Looking forward to write a next issue on 

the London's voyage when we're in the Caribbean Sea I wish you all a good watch and safe sailing. 

(Captain Gerrit Verschoor – m/v London) 

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FROM KOREA TO BANGLADESH 

The Bangladeshi Ministry of Shipping 

oversees the Bangladesh Inland Water 

Transport Authority (BIWTA) which is 

responsible for managing the country’s 

extensive network of inland rivers, canals 

and ports. The Authority also mandates 

and manages pilotage for those waters and 

vessels requiring a pilot. To undertake a 

wide range of responsibilities the Authority 

has a fleet of vessels to which they have 

recently added a powerful new tug. Built in Pusan, Korea by the Dong Hae Shipbuilding yard to a 

design by Komac Design Tech Co,. Ltd., the tug is 36.6 meters long by 9.6 meters wide with a 4.2meter 

depth. It is powered by a pair of Cummins 16-cylinder KTA50M2 engines each delivering 

1600 HP Continuous at 1800 RPM to a pair of Schottel azimuthing drives each with a 2100 m/m 

four-blade propeller in a nozzle. Reduction in the drive-train is 5.858:1.The result is a bollard pull of 

approximately 40 tons with ample power and maneuverability to provide ship assist. Hawser 

winches are located fore and aft with a 

towing hook also at the first deck level 

aft. An electro-hydraulic knuckle boom 

mounted on the first level cabin top will 

provide additional versatility for the 

vessel. Electrical power is provided by 

two 220PS x 1500 rpm gen sets and a 

single 72PS x 1500 rpm harbor set. 

Accommodation is provided for a crew of 

14 persons with a total capacity of 23 

persons including crew. Fuel capacity is 

70 cubic meters and fresh water is 25 m3 

to provide for up to 15 day voyages. (Source: Alan Haig-Brown; Photo: Cummins Korea Ltd.) 

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AHT ERACLEA CONTRACTED FOR THE TOWAGE OF JACK-UP RIG DEEP 

DRILLER 1 

ALP is pleased to announce that Deep Drilling/ABAN have elected ALP’s 2010 built Italian 

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registered with call sign IITX2 tug Eraclea (Imo 9499656) to tow their drilling rig Deep Driller 1 

from Kakinada to Pipavav. We expect that the duration of the project will be around 30 days. 

(Source: ALP) 

YARD NUMBER 571672 ON TRAILS 

Last week was seen the Damen Hardinxveld 

built Shoalbuster 2709 with yard number 

571672 (Imo 9652404) commencing her 

technical trails in the Rotterdam Europort. 

The vessel has a length of 27.19 mtrs a beam 

of 9.10 mtrs and a draft of 2.60 mtrs. The 

two Caterpillar type 3512B TA/A main 

engines develop a total power output of 

2,238 bkW (3,041 bhp) at 1600 rpm. It is 

expected that during the trails the tug 

achieved a speed of 11 knots and a bollard 

pull of 38 knots. (Photo: Ruud Zegwaard) 

SL SERVAL DELIVERED 

JENNY WAITING FOR DEMOLISHERS 

It was reported last week that the 1954 

built Dutch tug Jennie is waiting her 

demolution at the Treffers scrap yard – 

Haarlem: Netherlands. The tug was built 

on the Scheepswerven v/h H.H. Bodewes 

– Millingen; Netherlands under number 

479 for L. Smit & Co's Internationale 

Sleepdienst Mij NV – Rotterdam as 

Kralingen. In 1972 restyled to Smit 

Internationale Havensleepdiensten BV – 

Rotterdam. In the same year transferred 

to Bergings- en Transportbedrijf Van den 

10/24 

Last Thursday November 18, 2012 the 

Damen Shipyard Galati; Romania new 

building with yard number 512511 tug 

SL Serval was delivered and departed 

from the yard bound for Iraq. The tug is 

owned by Smit Lamnalco for operations 

of her new Single Point Mooring 

contract with Iraq Crude Oil Expansion 

Project (ICOEEP). She is the second 

ASD 3212 tug, after delivery of her sister 

the SL Tiger last month, for this project. 

(Source: Damen)


Akker BV – Vlissingen; Netherlands and renamed Everingen. In 1988 sold to Stolk's 

Handelsonderneming - Hendrik Ido Ambacht; Netherlands and towed by the tug Pelikaan from 

Vlissingen to Hendrik Ido Ambacht. In the same yaer 1988 resold to J. Nijhof - Oud-Beijerland and 

rebuilt for pushing by Scheepswerf Visser – Irnsum, Netherlands. Again sold in 1988 to H.J. Foekens 

at Maasbracht; Netherlands renamed Arkona. In 1992 sold to C.J. Kuijpers – Spijkenisse; 

Netherlands and renamed PASCAL II. In 1995 re-engined diesel V16cyl (1989) GM type 16V92TA, 

575bhp-423kW @1800rpm. In 2004 sold to Van der Meer-Bos vof – Urk; Netherlands renamed 

Hinte. In 2007 sold to Weba Sleep- en Duwvaart Transport (W. Wezelman) – Urk; Netherlands 

renamed Jennie. (Photo: Willem Koper) 

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DAMEN DELIVERS TWO AZIMUTH TRACTOR DRIVE TUGS 2412 TO FAST 

GROWING KOTUG 

KOTUG International will 

shortly be putting two new 

Damen Azimuth Tractor Drive 

Tugs 2412 into operation into 

the German Port of Hamburg. 

These tugs were ordered by 

Elisabeth Ltd in Malta and are 

being chartered by the KOTUG 

Group. KOTUG is a fast growing 

towage company expanding its 

innovative services to ports and 

terminals in Europe (Rotterdam, 

Hamburg, Bremerhaven), West- 

Africa and Australia. Recently 

KOTUG started towage activities in the new German deep sea port Wilhelmshaven. Due to this 

growth in the German Ports and the increased size of their client’s vessels, KOTUG needed these 

additional tugs on short notice. Damen’s short delivery time and quality were the key factors to 

choose for these strong and compact Azimuth Tractor tugs ‘ZP Bulldog’ and ‘ZP Boxer’. Damen 

Services arranged the transport from Vietnam to Rotterdam (The Netherlands), where Damen 

handed over the tugs in November in a turnkey operation. After their arrival the tugs have been 

painted in the KOTUG colours, equipped and prepared to commence their towage activities in the 

port of Hamburg, around November 12th. The tugs have a length of 24 m, a width of 12 m, 5600 

BHP and a bollard pull of 70 tons. (Press Release± Kotug/Damen) 

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CHEOY LEE LATEST DELIVERY RAMPARTS 3200CL ASD TUG 

Following a batch of two 

vessels ordered by an India 

based client, GPC BARÚ, 

built under Cheoy Lee yard 

number 4982, is the first in 

the latest series of three 

RAmparts 3200CL tugs, this 

time for GPC Tugs S.A.S., a 

member of the Sociedad 

Portuaria Regional de 

Cartagena (SPRC) Group in 

Columbia. The vessel will 

operate in the port of 

Cartagena, Columbia’s second largest port. The vessels are built to Lloyd’s class, with the notation 

LR +100A1 Tug, +LMC, +UMS, *IWS Unrestricted Service. The RAmparts 3200CL has a range of 

engine options, and these latest deliveries are fitted with twin Caterpillar 3516C engines, each 

developing 2,682hp. These diesels drive a pair of azimuthing Schottel SRP1515FP fixed pitch rudder 

propellers. The tugs offer excellent maneuverability, a top speed of 13.8 knots and bollard pull of 71 

tonnes. Electrical power is from two 3-phase 115kW Perkins generators. The tug accommodates 10 

crew members on the forward lower deck. The master and chief engineer each have their own cabin 

on the main deck level. Hydraulically driven deck gear includes a MacGregor towing 

winch/windlass at the bow and another MacGregor towing winch at the stern. An FFS fire pump is 

driven off one main engine, and supplies two FFS fire monitors. GPC BARÚ is fitted with an 

extensive navigation package, primarily from Furuno, including radar, autopilot, echo sounder, GPS, 

Inmarsat-C, SSB, VHF, Navtex, AIS, BNWAS, and satellite compass. Cheoy Lee yard number 4982 

left Hong Kong in October 2012, on a voyage through the China Sea and across the Pacific, under 

the command of the delivery crew from Redwise. Principal Dimensions: 32.00m LOA x 12.40m 

Beam x 4.88m Draft. (Source: Cheoy Lee) 

FORTUNAGRACHT HOLED 

ACCIDENTS – SALVAGE NEWS 

12/24 

The 137 meter long freighter 

Fortunagracht suffered water 

ingress while moored at 

Antwerp, Belgium. The 

freighter had suffered a leak 

in the cargo hold causing the 

vessel to list to port against 

the quay. The local fire 

brigade along with two tugs 

assisted keeping the 

Fortunagracht while the crew 

made repairs. Reports state a 

portion of the cargo had 

fallen into the hold piercing


the hull. No reports of injuries or pollution released. (Source: Shipwreck Log; Photo: 

nieuwsblad.be) 

DISAPPEARED SHIP AMURSKAYA FOUND ON SEABED 

Rescuers have found the sunken M/V 

Amurskaya, which was carrying a cargo of 

gold ore and disappeared in the Okhotsk Sea 

ten days ago, the Russian Ministry of 

Transportation said. The vessel was found in 

the coordinates Lat.-54.57.680 N, Long. - 

135.51.643 E, laying on her portside. The 

search-and-rescue team divers found the 

vessel had no life rafts on starboard with the 

ladder prepared for evacuation of the crew. 

The hold hatch cover No. 2 was nearly open, 

the cargo was on the deck. There have been no bodies of the crew found as yet, but the divers have 

not searched cabins. The preliminary inspection shows that the crew attempted an emergency 

evacuation. Further examination of the vessel would be unreasonable, the report said. The Maritime 

Rescue Coordination Center in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is planning to send SAR vessels and aircrafts to 

scour new areas for possible survivors. The search could be resumed in early morning of November 

8th. On October 28, the M/V Amurskaya laden with 700 or 750 tons of gold ore issued a distress call 

in the area of Shantarsky islands in the Khabarovsk region. An emergency beacon of the vessel was 

sending signals of distress. There were nine or eleven crew members, all Russian nationals, on board 

the ship. The ship departed from the port Kiran having no permission and approvals from the 

control services. The cargo exceeded the capacity of the vessel, which could carry only 611 tons. 

Besides, the investigators found that the vessels was not designed for the transportation of bulk 

cargoes and did not get permission to transport raw materials. (Source: Portnews; Photo by Savitskiy 

Igor) 

OFFSHORE NEWS 

DEEP SEA SUPPLY WINS AHTS DEALS IN MALAYSIA 

Deep Sea Supply, a Norwegian owner of 

offshore support vessels, has secured a 1 year 

contract for the AHTS vessel “Sea Eagle 1″ for 

operations in Malaysia. The shipowner did 

not disclose the name of the client, but only 

said the client was “an international oil 

company”. The value of the contract, which 

began in late October, is estimated at $8.5 

million. Additionally, Deep Sea Supply 

revealed that its AHTS vessel “Sea Panther” 

has been awarded a 60 days firm contract 

with 12 weekly options with an international oil company for operations in Brazil. Total value of 

the firm contract $2.1 million. The Sea Panther’s contract kicks off in December. (Source: Offshore 

Energy Today) 

13/24


Advertisement 

BIBBY OFFSHORE TAKES OVER DSV TOISA POLARIS 

Aberdeen-based subsea 

installation contractor Bibby 

Offshore has announced it will 

increase staff numbers by a 

further 60 as it takes over 

ownership of the Dive Support 

Vessel (DSV) Toisa Polaris. The 

vessel came under the control of 

Bibby Offshore in January 2012 

on a two-year time charter with 

options to extend. This also 

included a pre-agreed purchase 

option as part of the deal with 

Toisa Ltd. Bibby Offshore has now exercised its option to purchase the vessel and took delivery of 

Polaris in Stavanger Norway on 31 October 2012. The vessel was named DSV “Bibby Polaris” to 

recognise both the new owners and also to retain the link to the vessel’s impressive reputation as an 

accomplished and proven North Sea diving and subsea construction platform. The vessel has been 

one of the North Sea’s premier DSVs for a number of years and has an outstanding track record since 

its delivery in 1999. The deal gives Bibby Offshore 100% ownership of one of a small number of 

high specification DPIII North Sea class DSVs. The vessel has an established track record for 

carrying out complex and varied projects, which is exactly the type of work secured by Bibby 

14/24


Offshore throughout the UKCS. The purchase of the vessel also means that the marine crew will 

now be provided by Bibby subsidiary, Bibby Ship Management, meaning the creation of around 60 

offshore positions. Bibby Polaris will join the company’s international fleet which now consists of 

five subsea support vessels, including the most modern fleet of DSVs in the North Sea. The purchase 

of the vessel is being partially financed by a facility from Standard Chartered Bank which provides 

£53 million of funding to be deployed as part of this deal and the refinancing of part of the existing 

Bibby Offshore fleet. Bibby Offshore currently has over 250 onshore staff and over 600 offshore. 

Further recruitment of staff is planned for throughout 2013. (Source: Bibby Offshore) 

BOURBON OFFSHORE TAKES DELIVERY OF NEW PSV 

China’s Zhejiang Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. has 

delivered the platform supply vessel Bourbon 

Calm to its owner, Bourbon Offshore, on 2 

November 2012. Bourbon Calm is the third in a 

series of four platform supply vessels of 

ULSTEIN’s PX105 design to Bourbon Offshore 

Norway from this yard. The ship has a length of 

88.8 metres, a width of 19 metres, deadweight 

4,290 tons and a maximum speed of 15.5 knots. 

The ship is equipped for a permanent capacity 

of 25. The vessel’s cargo system ensures safe 

and efficient loading and discharging. The 

Multi Application Cargo Solution (MACS) and product tank configurations give a major increase and 

flexibility in cargo capacity. (Source: Zhejiang) 

FIRST ‘RAPTOR CLASS’ ANCHOR HANDLING TUG LAUNCHED 

Terasea Pte Ltd is pleased to report that vessel one 

of their first set of ‘Raptor Class’ 200T BP AHT’s, 

the “Terasea Falcon”, was launched at Universal 

Shipbuilding’s Keihin yard on October 18th, 2012. 

The “Terasea Falcon” will be delivered at the end 

of February 2013. Three additional sister vessels 

(Terasea Hawk, Eagle, and Osprey) are to be 

delivered approximately every three months after 

the Falcon. These specialized long distance towing 

and anchor handling tugs have been designed and 

built to the highest specification of any AHT in 

this class and will become the new standard in the offshore towage market. Terasea intends to be the 

market’s leading contractor for long distance towage and positioning services. We will be setting 

new standards both with our vessels and with our shore based systems managing and supporting the 

vessels. Terasea’s focus will be on providing the highest level of service to our FPSO, FSO, FLNG, 

Rig, Salvage and general towage customers' requirements while maintaining a strict adherence to 

best practices for HSEQ. The ‘Raptor Class’ vessels are 16,300BHP, ABS Class, 200T BP, FIFI 1, DP1 

ready, and completely compliant with current and expected SOLAS and IMO regulations including 

ballast water treatment & MLC 2006. Terasea, headquartered in Singapore, will have commercial & 

operational support centres in Europe and North America to better serve our worldwide clients. 

15/24


Terasea’s future planning involves our next generation vessels with a bollard pull of approximately 

300MTs. (Source: Terasea) 

NEW DESIGN DRAWS ATTENTION 

Advertisement 

In mid-September Singaporean 

maritime watchers did a 

double-take as a sleek new 

vessel entered the legendary 

Mer-Lion Harbour. Even 

without the dramatic white 

and green paint job, the Fast 

Pax and Supply Vessel (FPSV) 

Bourbon Sirocco would draw 

attention. Her delivery voyage 

from the Piriou’s South East 

Asia Shipyard (SEAS) in Viet 

Nam marked the first of a series under construction for Bourbon Inc. The DP2 capable 53.4 by 10meter 

hull features a nearly plum bow stem and a middle draft of 2.25 meters. Accommodation is 

provided for a crew of 10 and seating is installed for 60 passengers. The vessel layout can be 

modified to accommodate up to 80 passengers. In addition to the passenger capacity the vessel’s 

after deck can support 2.5 tons per square meter for a total deck cargo capacity of 226 tons. Tankage 

is provided for 31-cubic-meters of vessel-fuel and 104-m3 of cargo-fuel. Water for boat use is seven 

m3 and lube oil is 1.9 m3. The vessel is powered by four Cummins KTA50-M2 engines. Each of 

these engines will deliver 1800 HP at 1900 RPM to Twin Disc MGX6848SC to power Hamilton 

HM811 water jets. Cummins also provided two Cummins 6CTA 8.3 D(M) will power150 kWe 

Leroy Somer alternators. Another pair of Cummins 6CTA 8.3 D(M) engines rated at 200 kW at 1500 

RPM turn two clutched hydraulic pumps. A pair of hydraulic powered 150 kW bow thrusters will 

enhance the vessel’s maneuverability when operating in the dynamic positioning mode. Designed to 

provide for fast crew changes and as a service vessel for offshore platforms the boat will be classed 

ABS +A1 HSC CREW BOAT, +AMS, +DPS2, +FIRE FIGHTING VESSEL CLASS 1. (Source: Alan 

Haig-Brown; Photos Courtesy of PIRIOU Southeast Asia Shipyard) 

CARIGALI HESS TO CHARTER AHTS FROM ALAM MARITIM 

The Board of Directors of Alam Maritim Resources Berhad is pleased to announce that its wholly- 

16/24


owned subsidiary, Alam Maritim Sdn Bhd, has received a letter of award from Carigali Hess 

Operating Company Sdn Bhd for the provision of one unit anchor handling tug supply vessel. The 

Contract valued at USD7.04 million only, will commence in March 2013. The Contract is for a firm 

period of 21 months with no specific provision for extension option. (Source: Alam Maritime) 

YUEXIN SHIPYARD HANDS OVER NEW AHTS VESSEL TO MARTENS 

MARINE 

On 29th October 2012, the delivery ceremony 

of Martens Marine’s 58.7м AHTS Vessel 

YX3157 was held on Yuexin shipyard. 

YX3157 is built to ABS Class and includes the 

notations: A1Ⓔ “Offshore Support Vessel, 

AH, Towing Vessel, Fire Fighting Vessel Class 

1”, AMS, and DPS-1. She is a Khiam Chuan 

Marine (KCM) design vessel, which measures 

58.7м in length, with a moulded breadth of 

14.6м, and a moulded depth of 5.5м. The 

maximum draught is 4.75 м. The vessel can 

carry 42 men, 475м3 of fuel oil, 230м3 of fresh water, 187м3 of dry bulk and 250м3 of mud. Besides, 

YX3157 achieves a bollard pull of 67.2T and a speed of 13.51 knots. Power is provided by a twin 

Caterpillar main engine each rated 1920kw at 1600rpm per minute, driving a pair of ZF controllable 

pitch propellers. The electrical power is supplied by two 350KW Caterpillar diesel-driven generators 

with a C4.4 CAT emergency generator, providing ever fount energy for the ship. Manoeuvrability is 

enhanced by a twin 8T Kawasaki bow thruster. YX3157 is the first of the 58.7m AHTS vessels built 

by Yuexin for Martens Marine. YX3157 is the one of the most important projects of Yuexin this 

year. Under the support and coordination of the classification society, Yuexin has adhered to the 

standard procedure, strict quality control during construction process, laying good foundation for 

the construction of the rest three 58.7m AHTSs. (Source: Yuexin Shipyard) 

DOLPHIN GEOPHYSICAL ENTERS SEISMIC SURVEY CONTRACT IN 

SOUTH AFRICA 

Dolphin Geophysical AS has signed an 

agreement with Anadarko South Africa 

(Pty) Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of 

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, for the 

acquisition of approximately 6250 kms, 2D 

survey offshore South Africa, where 

Anadarko is partnered with PetroSA. The 

survey will be acquired by Artemis Atlantic 

commencing in December 2012. VP 

Marketing & Sales Phil Suter, commented 

“This is our second contract for work in 

South Africa and marks another award from 

a major oil company, demonstrating Dolphin’s strengthening presence in the seismic market.” 

(Source: Dolphin Geophysical) 

17/24


Advertisement 

STRILBORG SELECTED BY AGR NORWAY 

AGR Norway has secured the UT 722 Strilborg for a 90 day, one well programme supporting the 

semi-submersible Transocean Winner. Commencement of the contract is in May 2012. Until the 

end of 2012 the DP2 field support/rescue vessel will continue to work for Conoco Phillips Norway. 

(Source: OSO) 

WINDFARM NEWS 

SILVERSTAR MARINE TO PROVIDE CLIENT REPRESENTATION FOR 

NEWBUILD WFSVS 

Silverstar Marine announced it 

has recently secured a contract to 

provide Client Representation 

Services for the construction of 

three, 27m Windfarm Support 

Vessels for existing client, 

Turbine Transfers. Silverstar 

Marine’s Managing Director, 

Simon Knight confirmed: “The 

scope of work includes regular 

attendance at the shipyard to 

assess the progress, ensuring all 

vessels meet the required 

standards and also verification of 

the vessels’ performance during commissioning and sea trials.” He added, “The contract also includes 

review all of contract documents and construction drawings.” The vessels are to be constructed by 

Austal at their Philippines shipyard, and are expected to commence in March 2013. This is the third 

contract with Turbine Transfers, following the successful completion of three vessels at Austal’s 

Henderson shipyard, and a 27 metre TRI SWATH, nearing completion at Austal’s Philipines 

shipyard. “We continually strive to provide value added services to our clients and our third 

contract with Turbine Transfers is testimony to that”, Mr Knight added. (Source: Silverstar Marine) 

18/24


TWO HSSV’S ON CHARTER 

Damen built HSSV’s are seen 

last seen in Wilhelmshaven 

Germany. The Marineco 

Shamal & MCS Sirocco both 

Damen twin axe HSSV 2610 

vessels, Are currently on 

charter to Global Marine on 

the installation of the wind 

farm Global tech 1. The two 

vessels started in the first 

week in August for the 

duration of the windfarm 

construction. Approx 2 year. They are in Wilhelmshaven Germany just now standing by awaiting 

orders. (Source & Photo: Ryan Rolland) 

BLYTH WORKCATS LAUNCHES NEW WORKBOAT DESIGN 

The UK boat builder Blyth 

Workcats has extended its model 

range with a new design for the 

recently launched 17-metre 

workboat. By relocating the wheel 

house onto a second upper deck, 

the company is expecting that the 

17-metre High Bridge will be 

recognised as a practical and 

economical option for wind farm 

support vessel operators. The new 

design will also appeal to other 

boat users seeking an economical 

vessel that provides all-round visibility combined with exceptional interior space. The first 17-metre 

boat from Blyth Workcats was launched in May and since then it has been praised by its owners 

Wildcat Marine for its practical design and economical running costs. The new High Bridge design 

now offers all of the cost benefits of the original version combined with additional cabin space and 

improved forward visibility for both the crew and the passengers. The Blyth 17-metre Workcat is 

the largest boat to come from this long-established Essex, UK, boatyard. It has been designed to 

provide the offshore energy sector with a practical and robust work boat capable of providing 

dependable day-to-day transport. It is powered by two MAN D2848, 750hp engines which have 

been shown to operate at a frugal 130 litres per hour per engine at maximum speed of 26+ knots and 

just 79 litres per hour at cruising speed of 20 knots. The low operating costs combined with its 

spacious accommodation are also expected to make the new Blyth High Bridge 17-metre attractive 

for tourism and ferry applications as the company also has designs for a version of the same model 

with a capacity for over 100 internally seated passengers. The performance of the Blyth 17-metre is 

attributed to the balance of fine hull entry and carefully designed chines. These create a hull that 

performs well at all speeds and sea conditions yet remains capable of providing optimum fuel 

economy while carrying substantial loads. The new Blyth 17-metre High Bridge joins a range 

consisting of 10, 11, 12 and 14-metre catamarans that are built for wind farm support, surveying, 

19/24


dive support, passenger ferry, fishing charter or any of a wide range of workboat tasks. All are built 

from GRP to offer important advantages over metal hulled boats such as lower running costs and a 

much lower initial outlay on buying the vessels. GRP boats can also be built to provide strength 

where it is needed and valuable weight savings wherever the design permits it. Hull lamination and 

construction is governed by meticulous quality control so the customer can benefit from a boat that 

has been built to exactly meet their needs while enabling rugged strength and reinforcement to be 

applied wherever it is needed. (Source: Blyth Workcats) 

Advertisement 

WINDFARM MAINTENANCE VESSELS NAMED AT PORT OF OSTEND 

Amongst great public interest, 

the vessels ‘Aquata’ and ‘Arista’ 

were named at the port of 

Ostend. Ms Evi Van Acker, 

Belgian sailor and bronze medal 

winner at the London 2012 

Olympics, accepted to be 

godmother to the ‘Arista’. Mrs 

Sabine Cartrysse, spouse of Mr 

Kris Vanmassenhove, accepted to 

be godmother to the ‘Aquata’. 

The christening also marked the 

launch of GeoSea subsidiary 

Offshore & Wind Assistance 

(OWA). Damen Shipyards of Gorinchem in the Netherlands was responsible for the detailed design, 

construction and delivery of the auxiliary vessels ‘Aquata’ and ‘Arista’. Measuring almost 26 m in 

length and 10 m in width, these so-called ‘Fast Crew Suppliers’ are equipped with a 3 ton capacity 

crane. The unique ‘Sea Axe’ hull shape patented by Damen Shipyards allows for high speeds even in 

rough waters. In addition, the ‘Aquata’ and ‘Arista’ have a very large carrying capacity in 

comparison to other, similar vessels, making them extremely suitable for quick transport of large 

quantities of goods and personnel. The first mission of the ‘Aquata’ and the ‘Arista’ will take them to 

the Thornton Bank off the Belgian coast, where earlier this year with the use of the DP2 jack-up 

vessel ‘Neptune’, parent company GeoSea installed already 30 wind turbines for the second and 

third stages of the C-power offshore wind farm. In the summer of 2011 OWA signed a long term 

contract with Repower for the support of the maintenance of all wind turbines at C-Power wind 

farm. For a period of 10 years OWA will be the exclusive provider of all crew transfer vessels for the 

regular inspections and maintenance as well as all jack up vessels which from time to time may be 

20/24


required for overhauls or repairs of larger components. Offshore & Wind Assistance (OWA) is 

looking to further strengthen its position at the forefront of companies specialising in supplying and 

maintaining wind farms at sea. Auxiliary vessels ‘Aquata’ and ‘Arista’ form an essential part of the 

strategy to realise that objective. Deployment of the ‘Aquata’ and the ‘Arista’ and the further growth 

of Offshore and Wind Assistance (OWA) will provide additional employment in the form of 

operational and technical maintenance and local employment for third parties on the coast. The new 

vessels ‘Aquata’ and ‘Arista’ are named after two of the seven daughters of Triton, the king of the sea 

who, together with his brothers, reigned over the sea under the watchful eye of their father, god of 

the sea Poseidon – Neptune in Roman mythology. Princesses Aquata and Arista helped King Triton 

in fulfilling his task; their main qualities included helpfulness, integrity, a sense of responsibility and 

foresight – features that perfectly match the goals and values of Offshore & Wind Assistance 

(OWA). (Press Release) 

YARD NEWS 

FINLAND'S NEW LNG PATROL BOAT STARTS PRODUCTION 

Dignitaries and media 

gathered at STX Finland's 

Rauma yard on the west 

coast for the official start of 

production of a new 

generation multi-purpose 

LNG offshore patrol vessel 

which is due to enter 

service in November 2013. 

Costing €90 million 

(USD115 million) and measuring 90 metres in length with a 17 metre beam, the new building 

project "UVL10" (standing for UlkovartioLaiva or offshore patrol vessel) will be the biggest in the 

Finnish Border Guard fleet. In addition to patrolling Finland's long coastline, the vessel will be used 

in a variety of other capacities due to its designed-in capabilities, with a forward helipad to assist 

search and rescue, and versatility suitable for both national defence and underwater assignments - 

for both the FBG and other state authorities. The Finnish Environment Institute was also involved 

in the vessel's design, resulting in the vessels' capabilities in oil and chemical spill recovery 

operations. On board, a 1,000 cubic metre tank has been installed and the craft is capable of 

operations in extreme conditions, including ice up to 80 centimetres thick. FBG Deputy Chief Matti 

Möttönen claimed "The ship will provide an efficient command platform for managing official tasks, 

with its extensive sensory equipment capable of supervising the sea area under any circumstances." 

In addition to the latest technological and environmentally friendly innovations required by the 

government's decision-in-principle on sustainable public procurement, ULV10 will be powered by 

two Wärtsilä 6L34DF engines and a Wärtsilä 12V34DF engine. DF denotes "dual fuel", which in 

practice means mainly liquefied natural gas (LNG), though the country has yet to build a LNG 

terminal. The Baltic Sea is classed as a "SECA" (Sulphur Emmission Control Area) and the S limit 

will be lowered from one per cent to 0.1 per cent in 2015. "When completed next year, ULV10 will 

represent the next generation in terms of function and environmental friendliness," commented 

Toivo Ilvonen, STX Rauma Shipyard Director. (Source: Baird-John Pagni) 

21/24


Advertisement 

RUSSIA BEGINS CONSTRUCTION OF "LARGEST ICE BREAKER" 

Construction of the first LK-25 ice 

breaker recently commenced in St 

Petersburg, Russia. Touted as "the 

largest icebreaker in the history of the 

Russian shipbuilding industry", these 

vessels will also comprise the nation's 

first ice breakers built in the twentyfirst 

century. These new generation 

diesel-electric ice breakers will have an 

energy capacity of 25 megawatts, and 

the total cost of each vessel will amount 

to RUB7.9 billion (USD263 million). The LK-25 will also be the most modern ice breakers in the 

Russia's fleet. The LC-25 will also debut a combined propulsion system which will allow the vessel 

to manoeuvre both in open water and in heavy ice conditions. It is also the first time that ships of 

this class will feature cargo cranes of up to 150 tonnes for underwater work in the offshore drilling 

and production platform industry, as well as in the underwater pipeline construction sector. 

(Source: Baird-Vladislav Vorotnikov) 

KUWAIT OIL COMPANY ORDERS 28 WÄRTSILÄ ENGINES FOR 14 NEW 

TUGS 

Finland’s Wärtsilä, the marine industry’s leading 

solutions and services provider, has been awarded 

the contract to supply the engines and complete 

propulsion systems for two newbuild vessel 

projects. The order includes a total of 28 engines for 

14 vessels being built for the Kuwait Oil Company, 

and represents a major order for Wärtsilä from a 

Middle East based marine sector customer. The 

Wärtsilä propulsion solutions will be installed in 

nine 80 ton Bollard Pull (BP) tugboats, and five 50 

ton BP tugboats, being built at the Damen shipyard 

in Holland. The contracts were signed in August 

2012, and delivery of the Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled for 2014 and 2015. The ships will be used 

for port operations at the Kuwait oil terminal. In addition to the engines and propulsion systems, the 

22/24


contract includes Wärtsilä’s Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) systems for each of the 14 vessels. 

CBM provides remote condition monitoring of the engines, and enables accurate and cost-effective 

predictive maintenance. Of the 28 engines ordered to power these vessels, the eighteen 80 ton BP 

tugboats will be powered by Wärtsilä 26 engines, and the ten 50 ton BP tugboats by Wärtsilä 20 

engines. The Wärtsilä 20 has proven its robustness and reliability with over 4000 engines delivered 

since its introduction to the market in the early 1990s. The engine can switch from MDO to HFO 

and vice versa smoothly without power interruption at any engine operation load. The Wärtsilä 26 

represents the latest in engine technology advances, combining fuel economy and low exhaust 

emissions with excellent fuel versatility. The engine has an exceptionally compact profile and thus 

requires a minimum of space in the engine room. (Source: Wärtsilä) 

REM OFFSHORE ORDERS NEW OSCV VESSEL 

Rem Offshore ASA has entered into a newbuilding 

contract for a modern Subsea Construction Vessel 

with the Kleven Verft AS. The contract price for 

the vessel is around NOK 600 million (approx 

$104.6 Mln). The MT6022 design has a length of 

108m and a width of 22m, with accommodation 

for a total of 110 persons. The ship is equipped 

with a 250t offshore crane that can work down to 

3000m ocean depth, a 7.2m square moonpool, and 

3 ROVs (2 Work, 1 Observation). The vessel is 

designed in accordance with the latest rules 

applicable to such ships. To be special mentioned is the SPS code/regulations, with the latest 

requirements for damage stability. With this legislation in place, the ship can work in all areas 

where it currently operates exploration and production of oil and gas. The vessel will be delivered 

from the shipyard in 1st quarter 2014. (Source: Rem Offshore) 

BRITOIL TO ENTER PSV MARKET WITH PX121 PAIR 

November 8, 2012 — 

Singapore ship owner 

Britoil Offshore Services 

Pte. Ltd. is entering the PSV 

market. It has entered into a 

contract with Ulstein 

covering the design and 

equipment for two PX121 

platform supply vessels that 

it will build at its own 

shipyard in Batam, 

Indonesia, P.T. Britoil 

Offshore Indonesia. When the first PX121, the 83.4 m x 18 m Blue Fighter, was delivered from 

Ulstein Verft in January this year (see earlier story) a team from Britoil attended the preliminary sea 

trials. While the Britoil ships will have the same hull lines as Blue Fighter and its sister ship Blue 

Prosper, they will be customized to Britoil's requirements. Changes will include adding one extra 

accommodation deck, allowing for a total complement of 50 persons. The ships will be built 

23/24


according to IMO's SPS Code (special purpose ships), and will have OILREC class notation (oil spill 

recovery in emergency situations). "Britoil is a new customer for Ulstein," says Ulstein Group deputy 

CEO Tore Ulstein, "and we are very happy that the company is now selecting Ulstein designs for 

their entry into a new market segment. We strongly believe that Britoil will find the new PX121 

vessels to be a cost-effective and attractive complement to their fleet." "This is a break-through for 

Ulstein in Southeast Asia, and the first time an Ulstein designed vessel will be constructed at an 

Indonesian yard," says Ulstein Design & Solutions managing director Sigurd Viseth. "The contract 

comprises a comprehensive equipment package including basic design, engineering support and 

main equipment supplied by Ulstein (generator sets, DP system, main azimuth propellers, tunnel 

thruster and retractable thruster, FiFi system, cargo handling system etc.). I also includes a large 

power and control package (electric propulsion system, integrated bridge solution, consoles, 

radio/navigation equipment, Ulstein IAS (integrated automation system) and Ulstein COM (internal 

communication system). (Source: MarineLog) 

WEBSITE NEWS 

HTTP://WWW.TOWINGLINE.COM 

ARE YOU ALSO INTERES T ED IN THIS FREE TUGS TOW ING & OFFSHO RE NEWSLETTER. 

PLEASE VIS IT THE WEBS ITE WW W.TO W I N G L I N E . C O M AND S UBSCRIBE YOURSE LF FOR FREE 

Last week there have been new updates posted: 

1. Several updates on the News page posted last week: 

Damen delivers two Azimuth Tractor Drive Tugs 2412 to fast growing KOTUG 

Patrol vessel Royal Netherlands Navy HMS Holland named “Ship of the Year” 

Havila Shipping ASA : Placement of new NOK 100 million unsecured bond issue 

MOBIMAR 18 wind turbine maintenance vessel launched 

Seaworthy IV” a new book from Willem Eerland 

Zwalkend over Zeeën en Oceanen a new book from Captain Piet Kars 

mailto:Please note that my e-mail address has changed into jvds@towingline.com 

This site is intended to be collective exchange of information. Information on this site has been pulled from many sources; we have 

attempted to credit these sources. But due to the multitude of sources sometimes we are unable to note all the sources. If you feel that 

material that is posted here is of your authorship and you have not been credited properly please alert us and I will correct the credit or 

remove it in accordance to the author's wishes. 

DISCLAIMER 

The compiler of the Tugs Towing & Offshore Newsletter disclaim all liability for any loss, damage or expense however caused, arising 

from the sending, receipt, or use of this e-mail communication and on any reliance placed upon the information provided through this 

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::JVDS-MARCOL:: Archive Production. 

24/24

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