Tugs & towing news - Towingline.com

12 TH VOLUME, NO. 32 DATED 14 AUGUST 2011 

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

TUGS & TOWING NEWS 

T.O.S. CREW ON THEIR WAY TO VANCOUVER 

On the 15th of July 

the ASD tug 

Seaspan Eagle left 

the port of Tuzla, 

Turkey for a voyage 

of approximately 

two months, with 

final destination the 

port of Vancouver, 

Canada. The 

Seaspan Eagle is the 

second tug T.O.S. 

delivers for Seaspan, 

following a first one 

– Seaspan Raven – 

that arrived on 

January 4th. From 

the same series, 

number 3 will follow in 2011, where number 4 will be delivered beginning of 2012. T.O.S. delivers 

the Seaspan tugs under full T.O.S. management. The state of the art shiphandling tugs are built by 

Sanmar Denizcilik Shipyard of Istanbul, Turkey, and the vessels will be used primarily to dock, 

undock and escort ships in the port of Vancouver. We wish the crew of the Seaspan Eagle a safe 

voyage ! (Source: T.O.S.) 

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PDVSA TAKES DELIVERY OF SECOND CUBAN-BUILT TUG 

Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA 

has taken delivery of the second in a 

series of Cuban-built harbor tugs. The 

first, Kariña, was delivered in April last 

year. Like that vessel, the latest tug, 

Guaiquerie, has been built in the 

Havana shipyard of Caribbean Drydock 

Company. The PDVSA program is for a 

total of eight tugs, six to be built in 

Cuba and two in Venezuela. The 30 m 

long tug has a beam of 10 m and a draft 

of 4 m. Equipped with azimuthing 

propulsion and firefighting equipment, the 4,700 hp vessel has a thrust capability of 57 tons. 

BREMEN IN TOW OF THE FAIRPLAY XII 

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The Bremen was towed into 

Rotterdam on August 6, by the 

Fairplay XII. The Bremen probably 

have some engine damage. The 

Bremen from URAG is the ex 

Accurat from L & R and was 

probably named in July (in June she 

was still working in Hamburg ass 

Accurat) and registered the Maltese 

flag. She has been sold to Ocean Srl. 

Bremen was underway to Trieste. 

(Foto: R & F van der Hoek-Lekko) 

UK'S EMERGENCY TOWING VESSELS STILL IN FIRING LINE? 

KIMO UK is seriously concerned that 

the Government is still planning on 

removing the Emergency Towing 

Vessels (ETV‟s) from UK shores - a move 

that will lead to increased amounts of 

pollution in the UK‟s waters. The 

government is set to ignore advice from 

KIMO UK, coastal local authorities, a 

diverse range of maritime industries, its 

own consultants, the ETV working 

group and probably the MCA and 

withdraw at least three of the UK‟s four 

Emergency Towing Vessels at the end of September leaving coastal users without emergency 

backup and removing the UK‟s offshore pollution prevention and response capabilities. Tom Piper 

of KIMO UK said: “KIMO UK is extremely worried that the UK‟s ETVs will be removed from


service in September, with only the vessel in Stornoway possibly retained for a few months while 

alternative funding is identified; at the very least this short-term arrangement must cover all four 

tugs. "Whilst we support a move to a more cost effective funding package for the tugs, we feel it is 

the Government‟s responsibility to put this in place and commit to providing long-term emergency 

cover. We totally disagree with the government's view that “ship salvage should be a commercial 

matter between a ship's operator and the salvor” as the reality is many innocent local authorities 

would be affected in the case of an accident. Norman MacDonald, KIMO UK chairman, said: “At 

the beginning of the spending review Prime Minister David Cameron promised there would be no 

frontline cuts. Surely the removal of the UK‟s emergency tugs is going against this promise.” 

(Source: Fish update; Photo: Leen van der Meijden) 

SUCCESSFUL TRIALS MOTORTUG DOMBO Y 8017 

After installation of her original 4 

cilinder Bolnes main engine, the 

motortug Dombo Y 8017 has 

succesfully performed trials in the 

port of Den Helder in the 

Netherlands. Built at the naval yard 

Willemsoord in Den Helder the tug 

started her career for the Transport 

Services of this this yard in 1956. 

Originally the tug was powered by a 

200 hp Bolnes diesel, but in 1972 

this engine was replaced by a Volvo 

Penta. The old engine became a 

training object in the workshop of 

the Nautical College Noorderhaaks. 

Two years ago the Bolnes returned to Willemsoord and was completely overhauled by volunteers, 

who also make the complement of the tug. Last March the Bolnes diesel was installed on the old 

foundation and on the 6th of August the Dombo Y 8017 was steaming again. The tug now belongs 

to the Y 8122 Foundation, which also owns the steamtug Y 8122. (Source & Photo: Paul Schaap) 

DONJON MARINE ADDS 2,400 BHP TUG TO FLEET 

Hillside, N.J., headquartered 

Donjon Marine Co. has added the 

2,400 hp-class tug Caitlin Ann to its 

growing fleet to support the 

company's dredging, marine 

salvage, bulk material 

transportation and marine 

demolition services. The addition of 

the Caitlin Ann increases the 

Donjon towboat fleet to 14 total 

vessels ranging from 1,200 to 7,000 

horsepower. In addition, Donjon 

also owns and operates five derrick 

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barges with a maximum capacity of 1,000 tons, more than 40 deck and hopper barges, 3-4000-cubic 

yard split hull dump barges and numerous small vessels, floats and related marine craft. "The 

addition of the Caitlin Ann allows Donjon's Marine Transportation Division to add even more 

flexibility to its ever-growing and diverse operational needs," said Steven G. Newes, Donjon's 

Senior Vice President of Marine Transportation. (Source & Photo: Marine Log) 

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BLESSEY MARINE: ROLLIN’ ON THE RIVER 

The demand for handy sized towboats to 

handle inland river tows continues to grow 

and one of the strongest contributors to that 

growth is Blessey Marine. Primarily 

handling petroleum-related products, the 

firm has grown rapidly to their present fleet 

size of over 60 towboats with more on order. 

Although they have vessels ranging from 700 

to 4900 HP, the 2000 HP Class is proving 

popular. Two recent deliveries illustrate 

slightly different sizes and configuration of 

their 2000 HP towboats. The MV Steve Scalise was built at the Verret Shipyard in Plaquemine, 

Louisiana to a design by the shipyard. Delivered in early 2011, the 85 by 30-foot towboat is a little 

longer than some of this horsepower class. With a moulded depth of 10.5-feet the hull has tankage 

for 30,000 gallons of fuel, 16,800 gallons of water and 450 gallons of lube oil. A pair of EPA Tier 2 

compliant Cummins K38-M main engines turn four-blade 74 by 56-inch four blade stainless 

propellers from Sound Propeller through 

Rentjes Model 562 gears with 6:1 reduction. 

The MV Jerry “Dog” McLain was also 

delivered this year. This towboat, from by the 

Raymond and Associates yard in Bayou 

LaBatre, Alabama, was also built to the 

shipyard's own design. At 76-feet the “Dog” is 

shorter than the Verret boat by nine feet. 

However with a 35-foot beam she has five-feet 

more width. The slightly deeper, 11-foot 

molded, hull carries 31-300 gallons of fuel, 

10,300 gallons of water and 587-gallons of lube 

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oil. The engine room has the same power set with two Cummins K38 main engines. The difference 

is in the TwinDisc MG540 gears with 7:1 rations swinging Kahlenberg Stainless Steel four-blade 76 

by 63-inch wheels. Both vessels have Patterson deck winches, Hiller Fire Suppression systems and 

a pair of Cummins 6BT5.9-powered 85 kW Stanford generators. The Scalise is fitted with a Blue 

Box Recording System and the Jerry “Dog” Mclain has Simplex Shaft Seals and a Sims Motion 

Detector. The Scalise has accommodation eight people while the “Dog” has bunks for seven. 

Assigned to inland towing, both vessels are inspected under the Un-Inspected Towing Vessel 

Program (UTV) by the US Coast Guard. (Source: Marine Link) 

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interested people at sea and ashore. 

Send your press releases, news, articles and/or pictures to 

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NEW OFFSHORE MULTI-PURPOSE TUG FOR CPC TAIWAN 

„Dalin No.9‟ is a new multi-purpose tugboat 

built for Chinese Petroleum Corporation (CPC) 

Taiwan for offshore operation from the Port of 

Kaohsiung in Taiwan. Designed and built by 

Taiwanese shipyard San Yang Shipbuilding, 

„Dalin No.9‟ is a Votih-design tractor tug 

measuring 36 metres in overall length, 12.5 

metres in breadth, and 2.58 metres in draught. 

Her primary role will be to assist in the 

berthing of tankers and providing 24-hour 

escort as a stern tug during unloading. 

However, „Dalin No.9‟ is also designed for 

pollution control, oil recovery and fire-fighting capability to meet the up-to-dated environmental 

protection requirement. With two Yanmar 6EY26 main engines, each rated 1,620kW at 750rpm 

driving two Voith Schneider 26R5/195-2 propellers, the vessel has a maximum speed of 12.85 knots 

and delivers a bollard pull of 42 tonnes during assisting and escorting operation. The Voith tractor 

design was chosen because it provides constistency of bollard pull in dynamic environments, while 

maximising maneuverability. On deck, „Dalin No.9‟ features a Helia HMR 75/17 2S crane, a Funz 

San W-0127 winch and a Mampaey disc-type quick-release towing hook. The FiFi Systems 

firefighting system can deliver 1,200 cubic metres of sea water per hour with projectile length 

exceeding 120 metres. (Source: Baird) 

BLACK SEA FLEET RESCUE TUG SHAKHTER MOORS AT HOMEBASE 

SEVASTOPOL 

Black Sea Fleet (BSF) rescue tug Shakhter moored at homebase Sevastopol on Aug 4. The cruise of 

the BSF auxiliary ship lasted 3 months. The crew had excellently accomplished all assigned tasks 

and received traditional piglet roast. During the long-range cruise, the tug called at Spanish and 

American ports. According to BSF Information Support Group, Shakhter left Sevastopol early in 

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May and along with BSF submarine 

Alrosa headed for Spain to participate 

in the Bold Monarch 2011 submarine 

search-and-rescue exercise. The crew 

of Shakhter deserved appreciation of 

the exercise director for high 

professionalism displayed. When the 

Bold Monarch 2011 exercise was 

finished, Shakhter set a course for the 

US to support participation of 

Northern Fleet (NF) large ASW ship 

Admiral Chabanenko in the FRUKUS- 

2011 joint naval exercise; apart from 

Russian sailors, the exercise was 

attended by the US, France, and the UK. The exercise objective was to practice anti-piracy and 

convoy-escort activities of the joint task force. The exercise consisted of several episodes including 

drills in interaction, communications, and coordination needed for protection of shipping, as well 

as countering terror, smuggling, and propagation of hazardous weapons and materials. (Source: 

RusNavy) 

OLDIE FROM THE SHOEBOX 

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The John King tug-boat 

Prince‟s Wharf Bristol 

Harbour. The John King, a 

solid diesel tug, was built to 

tow cargo ships from Bristol 

City Docks to the mouth of the 

River Avon. The cargo ships – 

carrying goods ranging from 

paper pulp to sherry – needed 

the tug boat to steer them 

round the dangerous bends in 

the river. Built in 1935, by the 

last major Bristol shipbuilder, 

John King spent 35 years 

towing on the river. She also had special duties, which included supplying drinking water to ships in 

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dry dock, assisting at ship launchings and putting vessels into dry dock and occasionally pulling 

grounded vessels back into deep water. During the Blitz, John King spent 17 action-packed days in 

Pembroke Dock fighting fires in the oil installations. On her way back to Bristol she was attacked by 

a German aircraft. But as trade to the Bristol docks declined and motor ships became less reliant on 

tugs, John King‟s workload gradually disappeared. Her last big job for the towage company was 

watched by thousands of spectators when on 6 July 1970 she acted as escort to the SS Great Britain 

as the ship was towed from Avonmouth on the last leg of her voyage from the Falkland Islands. John 

King towed the Great Britain from Canons Marsh to her dry dock in the Floating Harbour. 

Eventually she was bought by Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives and fully restored to her 

former glory. The tug was built in 1936 by Charles Hill & Sons – Bristol under number 238 and 

delivered to Alarm Steam Tug Co. Ltd. and managed by C.J.King & Sons Ltd – Bristol. In 1970 she 

was sold to F.A.Ashmead & Sons Ltd. – Bristol and renamed Peter Leigh. In 1976 sold to private 

owner. In 1978 sold again to private owner and renamed Pride. Again sold in 1992 to private owner 

and renamed Durdham. In 1994 sold to the Bristol Industrial Museum, Princes Warf – Bristol 

preserved and renamed in 1996 into John King. The restoration was finished in 2000 and run in the 

docks, as seen on the picture, for passenger trips. (Photo: Arjan van der Ster is taken during the 

annual Bristol Harbour Festival 29-31 July in Bristol see also www.bristolharbourfestival.co.uk) 

ZELENODOLSK SHIPYARD LAUNCHES TWO VESSELS 

Zelenodolsk Shipyard launched 

two vessels on the eve of the 

Russian Navy Day – sea-going tug 

MB-12 and anti-terror boat 

Grachonok, told the yard‟s press 

service to Central Navy Portal. The 

shipyard effectively executes this 

year‟s production program building 

ships both for Russian Navy and for 

export. According to plans 

coordinated with Russian Navy 

command, patrol ship Dagestan is 

supposed to pass trials and join Caspian Flotilla in the current year. It is the first ship armed with 

the newest multipurpose missile system Caliber-NK. The ship is almost ready for towage to 

Novorossiysk Naval Base via inland watercourses; Dagestan will leave the shipyard in the nearest 

days. Sea-going tug MB-12 for Northern Fleet was launched on July 30. It is the first tug of this 

kind built under modernized Project 745MB. Right after that, the first serial anti-terror boat 

Grachonok (hull number 982) was launched from the yard‟s slipways. Construction of Project 

Buyan-M small-size missile ships is actively going on. The hull of the lead one – Grad Sviyazhsk – 

has been almost completed and is being filled with equipment. The second ship – Uglich – was laid 

down on July 22; keel-laying of the third hull is scheduled on Aug 30, the Republic of Tatarstan 

Day. Alongside with defense orders, Zelenodolsk Shipyard builds passenger vessels and river-sea 

class tankers. Launching ceremony of the first Project A-145 fast-speed passenger vessel will be 

held on Aug 16. The ship is designed for passenger transportations during Winter Olympics 2014 

in Sochi. Characteristics of Project 745MB sea-going rescue tug MB-12. Standard displacement – 

1,125 tons; full displacement – 1,390 tons; dimensions: length – 56.5 meters, beam – 12.65 meters, 

draft – 4.3 meters; full speed – 14 knots; fuel range – 6,200 miles (at 13 knots); endurance – 30 days. 

Powerplant: one 2,720-shp electric motor Schorch KL7540B-AS12, 2 x 1500-kW diesel generators, 

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2 x 300-kW diesel generators, 2 x 100-kW diesel generators. Radioelectronics: two navigation 

radars Don. Crew – 22 men. Characteristics of Project 21980 Grachonok anti-terror boat Standard 

displacement – 138 tons; dimensions: length – 31.04 meters, beam – 7.4 meters, draft – 1.85 meters; 

full speed – 23 knots; fuel range – 200 miles; endurance – 5 days; powerplant – 2 diesels. 

Armament: 4 MANPADS Igla, one 14.5-mm machinegun mount MTPU-14.5, 1×10 55-mm grenade 

launcher DP-65A (RG-55M), hand grenade launcher DP-64. Radioelectronics: navigation radar 

MR-231, optical system MT-201.M3. Crew is 8 men. (Source: RusNavy) 

FAIRMOUNT EXPEDITION ASSISTS DEEP PANUKE PRODUCTION FIELD 

CENTER 

Fairmount Expedition 

was assigned by SBM 

to install the Deep 

Panuke Production 

Field Center, offshore 

Nova Scotia, Canada. 

After mobilization 

Fairmount Expedition 

to Canso Strait, the 

Production Field 

Center was prepared 

for transportation to 

her final position. 

Once the weather 

window was suitable 

for installation the 

convoy started to proceed towards the field with an average speed of approximately 5.5 knots. 

Upon arrival in the field Fairmount Expedition assisted in positioning of the Production Field 

Center. After the delicate positioning operation, Fairmount Expedition removed some of the 

anchors in the field. After almost three weeks of intense application, Fairmount Expedition 

successfully completed all her tasks. Fairmount Expedition is currently mobilizing to Europe for 

her next assignment. (Source: Fairmount) 

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SMIT AUSTRALIA'S GLADSTONE TUG FLEET 

Smit Australia's Gladstone tug fleet: SMIT Awoonga (Imo 9578490), SMIT Koongo (Imo 9557587), 

SMIT Kullaroo (Imo 9578517) SMIT Leopard (Imo 9488724) (The odd one out), SMIT Tondoon 

(Imo 9578505), SMIT Yallarm (Imo 9557599) 04-08-11, alongside Gladstone. (Photo: Tropic 

Maritime Photos, Australia) 

T.O.S. SIGNS DELIVERY CONTRACT WITH SVITZER 

T.O.S. – Transport & Offshore Services – is 

proud to announce the delivery of five tugs for 

Svitzer. For many years now Svitzer is using our 

ship delivery services to great satisfaction, which 

resulted in this contract for the delivery of five 

tugs in 2011. The tugs are newbuilds from China 

(Qingdao) and all go to Africa. The first tug – 

Svitzer Angola – already arrived at her 

destination East London (South Africa) after a 

safe and well managed voyage. At this very 

moment the tugs Svitzer Zaire, Svitzer Padrao 

and Svitzer Soyo are at sea and heading for the 

same port. The last tug in the series will be delivered end of this year, and has Soyo (Angola) as her 

final destination. On the photo the Svitzer Padrao which is due to arrive in East London (South 

Africa) mid-August. (Source: T.O.S.) 

USCG PUBLISHES NPRM FOR INSPECTION OF TOWING VESSELS 

The U.S. Coast Guard announced Thursday publication in the Federal Register of a notice of 

proposed rulemaking (NPRM) designed to improve safety on towing vessels. The NPRM provides a 

layered approach to towing vessel safety that includes the option of an audited safety management 

system or an annual Coast Guard inspection regime. The NPRM also includes procedures for 

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obtaining Certificates of Inspection issued by the 

Coast Guard, and for Coast Guard oversight of 

any audit and survey processes involving third 

party organizations. Additionally, it would 

establish safety regulations governing the 

inspection, standards, and safety management 

systems for towing vessels. These include 

requirements for lifesaving and fire protection, 

electrical and mechanical items, and operational 

requirements such as crewmember training and 

drills, navigation and towing safety, and 

recordkeeping provisions. The Coast Guard has worked closely with the Towing Safety Advisory 

Committee in developing this proposed rulemaking and now encourages public comment on the 

proposal. Interested parties can review the proposal and submit comments and related materials at 

www.regulations.gov, docket number USCG-2006-24412. All comments are posted without change. 

The comment period ends on Dec. 9, 2011. “This NPRM, which proposes an inspection regime for a 

previously uninspected class of vessels, is the result of the Coast Guard working closely with 

industry to improve vessel safety to prevent accidents and protect vessels, crews, cargoes, our shared 

waterways, and our environment while being mindful of the burden created by regulations,” said 

Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Operations Vice Adm. Brian M. Salerno. While at this time, 

there is no specific proposal regarding requirements for hours of service and crew endurance 

management for mariners aboard towing vessels, comments on this important topic are encouraged 

and will be considered when the Coast Guard decides whether to propose such requirements in the 

future. The Coast Guard‟s current Towing Vessel Bridging Program efforts, which address verifying 

compliance with existing regulations, will not be impacted by these proposed regulations. (Source: 

MarineLink) 

MAN MISSING AS TUG BOAT SINKS IN THAMES AT DEPTFORD 

Very sad news today that the tug 

'CHIEFTON' has been involved in 

an incident and has sunk in the 

Thames at Convoys Wharf near 

Greenwich Pier. One crew member 

is missing and we hope he is found. 

Our thoughts are with the family 

and friends of the missing crewman. 

A man is missing after a tug boat 

overturned on the River Thames in 

south-east London. The vessel, 

called Chiefton, capsized and sank at about 10:50 BST at Convoys Wharf in Deptford, near 

Greenwich Pier. A spokesman for the Port of London Authority said one of the three-man crew was 

still missing. The stretch of river where the tug sank has been partially reopened after the rescue 

operation involving fire crews, the coastguard and the police. The authority said it had located the 

tug using a survey vessel and was assessing the first stages of how to lift it out of the water. The 

Chiefton, which is based at Gravesend in Kent, was towing a crane barge named Skyline at the time 

of the incident. 'Holding ropes' Chris Lewis, who witnessed the incident from his flat, said it sank 

rapidly. "I saw the platform coming down the river being pushed by one tug and pulled by another," 

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he said. "I turned away for a few seconds and when I looked back, the tug doing the pulling 

capsized. "I saw two crew members scramble off the capsized vessel and they were holding on to the 

ropes which were holding the tug and platform together. "I could not see if both of them were 

pulled out but one of them was hauled on to the platform. "The tug sank very quickly, within about 

30 seconds. I saw the stern of the tug going under." Daniel Jaffa was due to go on a sailing trip but it 

was cancelled due to the rescue operation. He said: "The rescue teams are using tourist boats on that 

stretch of the river to search for the missing person. "An RNLI lifeboat came over to us and told us 

the Thames has been closed between Greenwich and Tower Bridge." Safety measures on the Thames 

were tightened in the aftermath of the 1989 Marchioness riverboat disaster in which 51 people died 

when their boat was in a collision with a dredger near Southwark, south London. The sinking 

follows the death on the Thames last week of Ben Woollacott, 19, a crewman on the Woolwich 

Ferry. He fell from the ferry and under its propeller while mooring ropes were being untied. 

(Source: BBC News London; Photo: Shipspotting-Steve Francis) 

FAIRMOUNT EXPEDITION FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN ROTTERDAM 

On Fryday morning the 2007 built 

Dutch flag with call sign PBNB 

Ocean Going Salvage Tug Fairmount 

Expedition (Imo 9358943) arriving 

in Rotterdam for the very first time. 

She will undergoing some minor 

repairs at the Fa. Balck in the 

Waalhaven. On the picture she is 

seen entering the Waalhaven; 

Rotterdam. The vessel is owned by 

Fairmount Expedition BV and 

managed by Fairmount Marine BV 

Rotterdam; Netherlands. She has a 

grt of 3239 tons and a dwt of 3567 tons and is Lloyds Register of Shipping classed. (Photo: Leen van 

der Meijden) 

ACCIDENTS – SALVAGE NEWS 

MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN LA. CLOSED AFTER 9 BREAKAWAY BARGES 

DAMAGED 

TRANSYLVANIA, La.) -- The Coast Guard closed a portion of the Lower Mississippi River, 

Thursday, following the sinking of one barge from an uninspected towing vessel. Watchstanders at 

Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River received a report at approximately 1:30 a.m., that the 

UTV Sally Bromfield, while pushing 35 barges, had a breakaway near Transylvania that resulted in 

one coal barge sinking inside the channel at mile marker 468. One barge is partially submerged, 

and approximately eight other barges were damaged. The other damaged barges are stable and 

have been placed in a safe location out of the navigational channel. All barges involved were 

carrying dry cargo. The Lower Mississippi River will remain closed from mile marker 469 to mile 

marker 464 until the river is determined safe for navigation. A Safety Information Broadcast has 

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been issued. All vessels waiting to transit through the closed area may contact the Coast Guard on 

VHF-FM channel 16 for more information and mariners are urged to monitor VHF-FM channels 

16 and 22 for any changes. The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the incident. (Source: 

USCG) 

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MT PAVIT OWNER SENDS SALVAGE PLAN 

After days of deliberations, the 

Dubai based owner of MT Pavit 

have finally appointed a salvage 

company and submitted a plan to 

tow away the vessel that ran 

aground off Juhu Versova beach 

on Sunday. "The owners of the 

company (M/s Pavit Shipping 

Lines) submit ted the final plan 

and we are satisfied with the 

credentials of the salvage 

company," said SB Agnihotri, 

director general of shipping. "On 

Saturday, company officials will 

board the ship and do a 

preliminary survey for the salvage operation." Officials added that a date for the operation has not 

been set. On Friday, high tide stood at 13.88 feet and on Saturday it is expected to be 12.83 feet. It 

will gradually reduce further for days thereafter. "I do not think that high tide schedule is of any 

concern to the salvagers. Also, luckily, the ship is in a good condition," said Agnihotri. Meanwhile, 

on Friday there was a rumour that oil from the fuel tanks of MT Pavit had leaked into the sea. The 

Coast Guard directed one of its aircraft to assess the situation, but aerial monitoring showed that 

there was no oil spillage. (Source: Times of India) 

PHOENIX STUCK FAST – NEXT ATTEMPT TO REFLOAT AT END OF 

AUGUST 

Having made three abortive attempts to refloat the grounded bulker Phoenix, the salvors Smit 

Amandla Marine and SAMSA have decided to abandon attempts until the next high spring tide on 

30 August. According to SAMSA two attempts were made last week on the rising spring tide but 

unfortunately heavy swell conditions, which ordinarily would have been welcomed as an 

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assistance in lifting the ship 

from the rocks, resulted instead 

in the tow gear parting. During 

the third attempt on the falling 

tide the swell was insufficient 

to assist in lifting the vessel as 

the two tugs, Smit Amandla and 

Smit Siyunda commenced 

pulling. Capt. Nigel Campbell, 

SAMSA‟s Regional Manager for 

the Southern Region said that 

on the last attempt maximum 

power restrictions of the tugs 

were exceeded in the attempt. 

The KZN High Court on 

Thursday confirmed its ruling that the ship may be sold to the party submitting the highest bid, 

with a requirement that the ship be afloat for onward towage to India for scrap. The fuel recovered 

from the vessel may also be sold. Funds realised from the bunker fuel and the ship, assuming it is 

refloated, will be used to offset a small portion of the expenditure incurred by the state. Capt. 

Campbell said that planning has commenced on the steps that may need to be taken to ensure the 

removal of the vessel should further re-floating attempts be unsuccessful. He said that to this end 

Smit Amandla Marine has brought in experts from Holland who have undertaken many such 

operations previously. These options will be presented to SAMSA and DEA on 12 August. An 

Environmental Impact Assessment will be undertaken as part of the process. Meanwhile Smit 

Amandla Marine is keeping a team on site to monitor the integrity of the ship and regular patrols 

will be undertaken to monitor and respond to any traces of oil found on the beach. (Source: Ports 

and Ships; Photo: Sharon Scott) 

SHIP AGROUND OFF MAURITIUS 

Following a main engine 

failure which occurred on 5 

August at 22h24 local 

Mauritius Time, the Angel 1 

flying the colours of 

Panama went aground on 

the reefs on the North- East 

coast of Mauritius. The 

197m long vessel has a cargo 

of approximately 32,000 

tons of bagged rice on board 

due to be discharged in Cote 

d‟Ivoire. Although the Master tried to drop his anchors so as to hold the vessel against strong 

winter south-eastern winds, the vessel was literally thrown on the reef at about 2.7 nautical miles 

off the North-Eastern coast of the island. It is reported that at daybreak on the 8th instant, the 

Master found out that the vessel was sitting on her stern with her propellers out of the water level. 

He further discovered water ingress in the engine room. The National Coast Guard (NCG) went on 

the scene with a team of divers who failed to establish from where the water was entering the 

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ship‟s engine room. Currently there appears to be no precise information on what action will be 

taken by the owners of the Angel 1 to refloat the vessel. It would appear that a salvage team is 

expected early in Mauritius today (Wednesday) in order to evaluate the situation and take 

appropriate action. Needless to say the main concern of the Mauritius Government is to avoid by 

all means possible an oil spillage from the Angel 1 which if it did occur would prove to be an 

environmental disaster for the island. (Source: Ports & Ships by Mauritius correspondent Maryse 

Hurot) 

OFFSHORE NEWS 

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VROON AND FUJIAN SOUTHEAST SHIPYARD HOLD NAME GIVING 

CEREMONIES FOR FIVE VESSELS 

Vroon announces that the namegiving ceremonies for VOS Apollo, VOS Ares, VOS Artemis, VOS 

Themis and VOS Triton took place today, Wednesday 27 July 2011, in Fuzhou, China. At the 

ceremony all five vessels were christened simultaneously. VOS Apollo was christened by Mrs Marij 

Schoenmakers, partner of Mr Con Schoenmakers, Supervisory Board member, Vroon Group B.V. 

VOS Ares was christened by Mrs Dineke Korteland, partner of Mr Aart Korteland, Supervisory 

Board Chairman, Vroon Group B.V. VOS Artemis was christened by Mrs Monika Krogulska, 

partner of Mr Rob Heijliger, Regional Head Asia Asset Based Finance, ING Bank N.V., Singapore 

Branch. VOS Themis was christened by Mrs Mette Kargaard, partner of Mr Rasmus Wilhelmsen, 

Director, GreenOcean Brokering. VOS Triton was christened by Mrs Johanna Nieuwenhuijse, 

14/23


partner of Mr Ko Nieuwenhuijse, Managing Director, VOS Pte. Ltd. All five vessels are Anchor 

Handling Tug Supply vessels, built at Fujian Southeast Shipyard, Fuzhou in China and will be 

delivered in the course of this year. (Source: Vroon) 

HARVEY GULF POISED TO ORDER FIRST U.S.-FLAG LNG-FUELED 

OSV'S 

New Orleans headquartered 

Harvey Gulf International 

Marine reports that on July 28, 

2011, its Board of Directors 

approved the construction of 

the first United States flagged 

LNG-fueled offshore supply 

vessels. Harvey Gulf 

International Marine‟s 

Chairman & CEO Shane J. 

Guidry stated that this is 

another example of Harvey 

Gulf‟s commitment to meet its clients future needs. Mr. Guidry said that a contract will be 

awarded to a U.S. shipyard on or before August 28, 2011. He said that, with the stringent 

Governmental demands for both reduced emissions and clean burning energy use, Harvey Gulf has 

decided to make a capital investment of $100 million for two vessels. The SV310DF vessels, 

designed by STX Marine Inc., will be dual-fuel with LNG capacity for seven days with three 

engines at full RPM. The vessels will carry 5,520 tons of deadweight at load line and have a transit 

speed of 13 knots. STX Marine Inc., with offices located in Vancouver, British Columbia and 

Houston, Texas, is a consulting naval architecture and marine engineering company established in 

1983 and is a leading designer of offshore support vessels for the North American and international 

markets. (Source: Marine Log) 

MAERSK NOMAD IN HOLLAND 

Last week the Maersk Nomad (Imo 

9424778) arrived for the first time 

in the Port of Rotterdam. Here she 

is seen on the New Waterway. The 

Maersk Normand built in 2009 in 

Chili is registered Canadian flag 

with call sign VGPJ. The Offshore 

Tug Supply Vessel is owned by 

Maersk Supply Service Canada and 

managed by Maersk Supply Service 

AS – Copenhagen; Denmark. She 

has a grt of 4323 tons and a dwt of 

5121 tons. She is classed Lloyds 

Register of Shipping (Photo: Leen van der Meijden) 

15/23


MOSVOLD SUPPLY HAS CANCELLED ANOTHER VESSEL AT BATAMEC 

Mosvold Supply has cancelled another anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel at Otto Marine‟s 

Batamec shipyard. Singapore-listed Otto said Mosvold Supply III had cancelled Hull No. 7049 and 

demanded refund of payments and interest totaling $29.4m. It is the latest vessel to be cancelled by 

Mosvold out of a series of four it ordered from Batamec. "The company is currently being advised 

by its lawyers on its next course of action," Otto said. Otto will be reversing the profits booked on 

the deal and this will impact its 2011 full year financial results. (Source: Seatrade Asia) 

ZHEJIAN COMPLETES DELIVERY OF ‘BOURBON FRONT’ 

Zhejiang Shipbuilding, an affiliate to 

Sinopacific Shipbuilding Group, August 

9 completed the delivery of „Bourbon 

Front‟, the first of four Ulstein PX105 

platform supply vessels built for 

Bourbon Offshore Norway. Designed 

by Norway‟s Ulstein Group, „Bourbon 

Front‟ features the company‟s X-Bow 

inverted bow concept, designed to 

allow significantly higher transit speed 

in adverse weather conditions, as well as enhanced fuel economics. The bow shape ensures soft 

entry into waves, thus reducing speed loss, pitch and heave accelerations, as well as eliminating 

slamming and vibration problems. The 4,400DWT vessel measures an overall length of 88.8 metres, 

a breadth of 19.0 metres, a depth of 8.0 metres and a maximum draught of 6.6 metres. With a 

maximum speed of 15.5 knots, the ship is equipped, built and certified according to IMO Class II 

for Dynamic Positioning. On deck there is working crane with telescopic boom, and a cargo deck 

of 1,017 square metres built to withstand a load of 2,800 tonnes. The vessel is equipped with 

firefighting and cargo-handling safety equipment. Below deck there is accommodation for 25 

persons. (Source: Baird) 

Advertisement 

POLARCUS TAKES DELIVERY OF POLARCUS SELMA 

Polarcus Limited (OAX: PLCS) is pleased to announce that Polarcus Selma Ltd, a member of the 

Polarcus Group, took delivery on 08 August 2011 of Polarcus Selma, the sixth 3D seismic vessel to 

date to join the Polarcus fleet. Polarcus Selma is the sister ship to Polarcus Samur, delivered to the 

16/23


Polarcus Group in 

March 2011. The vessel 

was built at Drydocks 

World – Dubai in the 

United Arab Emirates 

and following delivery 

will complete final 

outfitting of loose 

seismic equipment. 

Polarcus Selma is an 

ultra-modern and 

Arctic-ready 8 streamer 

3D seismic vessel of the 

ULSTEIN SX133 design 

capable of towing both conventional and wide tow spreads, including the Company's First PassTM 

3D technique. The SX133 design has an overall length of 84.2m and a beam of 17m. Polarcus Selma 

has a maximum speed of 17 knots and is capable of deploying up to 8 streamers each of 6,000m 

length, or 6 streamers each of 8,000m length, with lateral streamer separations of between 25 and 

200 meters. (Source: Polarcus) 

ISLAND OFFSHORE CHRISTENS NEW SX121 VESSEL 

The offshore construction 

vessel, Island Intervention, 

of the SX121 design from 

ULSTEIN was named today. 

Shipowner Island Offshore 

has great expectations for 

the new vessel, which will 

carry out advanced 

operations in the Norwegian 

Sea this autumn. Island 

Offshore is a world leader 

within light well 

intervention and managing 

director of the company, 

Håvard Ulstein, says that its 

entire fleet is currently fully 

booked: “Island Intervention will become an important addition to our fleet. This autumn, the 

vessel will be installing a series of production trees on the seabed in the Norwegian Sea for a 

Norwegian oil company. This is a complicated operation, but we are confident, that with the right 

crew, this vessel is the best equipment for the job. Our experience with its sister vessels, Island 

Constructor, also delivered by ULSTEIN, is very good and we therefore have great expectations for 

the new vessel,” ends Håvard Ulstein. The 25-meter wide and 120-meter long vessel can 

accommodate 100 persons. The vessel is fitted with a tower for module handling, moonpool, ROV 

hangar, offshore crane, helipad, and a diesel-electric propulsion system. The vessel is also equipped 

with ULSTEIN COM and ULSTEIN IAS. (Source: Ulstein) 

17/23


SOLSTAD OFFSHORE ASIA PACIFIC WINS NEW AND EXTENDED 

CHARTER CONTRACTS 

Solstad Offshore ASA (SOFF) has through 

its subsidiary Solstad Offshore Asia Pacific 

Ltd in Singapore been awarded several new 

contracts. Nor Spring (AHTS / 2008 / 8.000 

bhp) is contracted to Saipem Singapore for 

a firm period of 180 days with charterers 

option to extend for a further 120 days. 

Commencement of charter will be in 

September 2011. The contract for Nor 

Chief (AHTS / 2008 / 10.800 bhp) has been 

extended with its current charterer, ENI, 

Egypt, for a period of 30 months. 

Commencement of the new charter will be 

mid-August 2011. For Nor Supporter (AHTS / 2005 / 8.000 bhp) Murphy Sarawak Oil Company 

Ltd, Malysia has declared their option to extend the contract for a further 12 months from end of 

August 2011. Total value of the firm part of these contracts is approximately USD 22,5 mill. 

(Source: Solstad) 

Advertisement 

SOLSTAD OFFSHORE SIGNS LOI WITH SUBSEA 7 FOR CHARTER OF 

‘NORMAND OCEANIC’ 

18/23 

Solstad Offshore ASA (SOFF) have 

signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with 

Subsea 7 for hire of SOFF‟s offshore 

construction vessel (CSV) 

“Normand Oceanic”. The agreement 

is for a firm charter period of 3 

years with 3 x 1 year option. 

Commencement is currently 

expected to be April 2012. The 

contract value is confidential 

between the parties, but gives SOFF 

an acceptable return on their 

investment in the vessel. “Normand


Oceanic” is built by STX OSV in Brattvaag, Norway, and was delivered to SOFF in April 2011. The 

vessel is purpose built for subsea work in deep waters and is equipped with a 400t subsea crane, a 

deck area of more than 2100 m2, DP class 3 and cabins for 140 people. (Source: Solstad) 

OTTO MARINE ENTERS INTO LOI TO SELL AHTS DEEP SEA 1 

Further to the 

announcement and the 

press release dated 23 

June 2011 in relation to 

the AHTS‟ receipt of its 

maritime class 

certification from Det 

Norske Veritas, the 

Board of Directors of 

Otto Marine Limited 

announced that it has 

entered into a letter of 

intent dated 10 August 

2011 to sell the AHTS 

Vessel Deep Sea 1 to an 

unrelated third party. 

AHTS Vessel Deep Sea 1 

was built in 2010 by PT Batamec and registered in Singapore under Singapore flag. The purchase 

price payable by the Buyers for the acquisition of the vessel is US$90,000,000. Under the terms of 

the letter of intent, the Buyers will pay a deposit of US$9,000,000 (the “Deposit”) to the Company 

within 30 days from the date of the letter of intent. Otto Marine Limited and the Buyers shall 

mutually agree upon all other terms and conditions pertaining to the sale of the Deep Sea 1 and 

shall execute a Memorandum of Agreement upon the payment of the Deposit. (Source: Otto 

Marine) 

OSV ASSISTS IN MEDEVAC OF INJURED GULF OF MEXICO FISHERMAN 

The Miss Kaleigh transferred victim from fishing boat to oil platform. The Coast Guard medevaced 

a man from a platform, Friday, in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 55 miles southwest of Marsh 

Island. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a call via satellite phone at 7:06 

a.m., from the motor vessel Storm, that a crewmember aboard the fishing vessel Master Kingston, 

suffered severe facial injuries. The crewmember was transferred to the Offshore Supply Vessel Miss 

Kaleigh, where he was taken to Vermillion Platform 250C. Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans 

launched an MH-65C Dolphin helicopter and crew to the platform and hoisted the crewmember 

and transferred him to Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans. His condition is unknown. 

“The Master Kingston was outside the communication range that the equipment onboard was able 

to handle,” said Layne Carter, command duty officer with the Eighth Coast Guard District. "Had 

the motor vessel Storm not been there, an emergency position indicating radio beacon could have 

been activated by the crewmembers aboard the Master Kingston, alerting the Coast Guard to the 

situation and position." The Coast Guard recommends all mariners have EPIRBs on their vessels. 

EPIRBs are essential for any vessel transiting far offshore. Once activated, the device is designed to 

send a vessel's position to rescue authorities through both geostationary and polar-orbiting 

19/23


satellites. "This is an excellent reminder of the importance of having a back-up plan, such as an 

EPIRB, for situations where normal emergency communications equipment may not be available,” 

said Carter. (Source: USCG) 

WINDFARM NEWS 

Advertisement 

Manufacturing & Design of 

Class approved 

Active Heave 

Compensated 

CRANES & WINCHES 

For Marine and Offshore up to 500 ton 

Sold & Serviced World Wide 

www.ahc-cranes.com 

20/23 

AHC Cranes Pte Ltd 

Company No.:201004355K 

151 Chin Swee Road 

#03-28 Manhattan House 

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Tel. : +65 9059 6585 

Fax : +65 6735 8015 

SKYPE: ahccranes 

ahccranes@gmail.com 

SEAJACKS VESSELS INSTALL 36 TURBINES AT WALNEY 2 OFFSHORE 

WIND FARM 

The Seajacks vessels 

continue to work in 

tandem, installing 

Siemens 3.6MW 

WTGs at a rapid pace 

on Walney 2 Offshore 

Wind Farm. Recent 

installation activities 

have been described as 

“booming” by client 

Dong Energy. 155 

turbines now installed 

– 7 turbines installed 

in the past week. 

Seajacks Operations 

Manager, Wes 

McDonald says “So far at Walney 2, we‟ve installed 36 turbines. Kraken and Leviathan have 

installed 18 each. Both the Seajacks Kraken and Seajacks Leviathan are performing efficiently and 

effectively during this period of intense installation activity. This takes the total number of 

turbines installed by Seajacks to 155. This past week we installed 7 turbines in 7 days. A great 

achievement by all the team onboard the vessels.” DONG Energy has elected to install the WTGs 

and cables in parallel in order to shorten the overall construction timeframe. In 2010, Seajacks 

Kraken installed 46 of a total of 51 turbines at Walney 1 Offshore Wind Farm, which are now 

producing clean, renewable energy for the UK. (Source: Seajacks)


YARD NEWS 

ZALIV SHIPYARD STARTS NEW SHIPBUILDING PROJECT 832 CD 

Starting of works over new 

shipbuilding project was marked 

for Zaliv by complex preparation 

process. Order, initially placed 

on SevMorZavod for 

construction of the vessel for 

offshore supply of drilling 

platforms (project 832 CD from 

design bureau of famous 

shipbuilding group Havyard 

International AS) owing to 

various reasons have not been 

completed. Resulting from this ordering company applied to Zaliv with offer to undertake the 

realization of this project. The long and responsible period of preparation for transportation of steel 

structures of this project from Sevastopol to Kerch. In the first decade of July all the steel structures 

were delivered to Zaliv and perfectly arranged works over unloading of the barge transporting 

them allowed workers of Zaliv immediately start the works over this order. The chief of 

production department of Shipyard Zaliv Valentin Pikhterev tells that tt the present moment steel 

treatment workshop of Zaliv have set all the hull details delivered from Sevmorzavod into units, 

the assemblers and welders of the dock workshop are working over consolidation of four bottom 

units and workshops Nos. 32 and 33 already started manufacturing of remaining units. Moreover, 

the specialists of the technical department complete preparation of design and technological 

documentation of the modified project basing on requirements from customer and classification 

societies. The hull laying up on the slipway is planned according to the schedule to the end of 

August. (Source: Zaliv) 

Advertisement 

KIRBY EXERCISES OPTION FOR SECOND AT/B FROM SIGNAL 

INTERNATIONAL 

Signal International announced today the option to build a second articulated tug/barge (AT/B) 

vessel has been exercised by Kirby Ocean Transport Company, the offshore tug and barge owning 

and operating subsidiary of Kirby Corporation (NYSE:KEX) of Houston, Texas. Kirby placed a $47 

21/23


million order for the first AT/B with Signal in March this year. The 

option brings the backlog at Signal's state-of-the-art continuous flow 

manufacturing facility in Orange, Texas, has to nearly $100 million. 

Engineering, planning and material procurement for the first AT/B is on 

schedule for manufacturing work to begin in the fourth quarter of this 

year. Simultaneously, fabrication of the second unit is also slated to get 

underway before year's end. The AT/B vessels are comprised of a 20,000 

DWT ocean bulk barge with a 6,000 BHP AT/B ocean tug. Each barge measures 480 ft x 90 ft x 36 

ft and will be outfitted with Ocean Tug & Barge Engineering's Articouple connection. The 6,000 

HP tugboat will be 125 ft x 42 ft x 22 ft built and classed to ABS Maltese Cross, +A1 Ocean Towing 

Service standards. The AT/B's will transport dry-bulk commodities in United States coastwise 

trade. "We will begin hiring in August, primarily in the fitter and welder trades," commented Dick 

Marler, Chairman and CEO of Signal International. Signal anticipates bringing on four hundred 

craftsmen to the Orange shipyard. Mr. Marler added, "In terms of job creation, with this contract 

our employment level will peak around 500 craft personnel." "The building of the two Kirby 

AT/B's is ideal for our Orange shipyard which has 450,000 sq. ft. of covered fabrication area, a 

proven CFM strategy and an experienced management team," said Mr. Marler, noting the contract 

puts Signal squarely back into shipbuilding. "A return to shipbuilding has been a strategic goal of 

Signal and we have the resources to be competitive with regard to cost and schedule for a variety 

of ship and vessel designs." (Source: Signal International) 

WEBSITE NEWS 

HTTP://WWW.TOWINGLINE.COM 

ARE YOU ALSO INTERE S TED IN THIS FREE T UGS 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: 

Man missing as tug boat capsizes in Thames at Deptford 

Resolve Salvage & Fire (ASIA), PTE LTD. Begins Removal of Wreck‟s 

Jensen Completes Tugboat Design Work for Harley Marine 

2. New photo‟s posted last week on the picture page: 

Dombo – YT8017 

John King 

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. 

22/23


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 

free service and does not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information. For more information about advertising, 

subscription, preferences and un-subscription visit the website: http://www.towingline.com The Tugs Towing & Offshore Newsletter is 

a ::JVDS-MARCOL:: Archive Production. 

23/23

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