Fairmount's programme to build new tugs was severely delayed when the Singaporean ship yard originally contracted to construct the vessels ran into financial difficulties and was declared insolvent at the end of 2003. Discussions are currently underway for a third tug to meet demands in the market for modern long distance towing vessels to replace the aging tonnage now serving the oil and gas industry.

Fairmount believe that in due course warranty surveyors will no longer accept bollard pull certificates older than five years, meaning that many, well known, older tugs now working in the market will have to be retested for bollard pull. This may lead to the de-classification of a significant number of towing vessels, rendering those units unsuitable for worldwide towage of the largest and more valuable tows, such as FPSO's.

Fairmount Sherpa and Fairmount Summit will operate under the Dutch flag and classed by Lloyds Register +100 A1 Tug, Fi Fi 1 with waterspray, SCM & LMC. The vessels will be managed for Fairmount by MPC Steamship BV of Groningen and registered under single ship companies. MPC are putting in place a purpose designed Total Quality Programme to ensure that clients are offered a service to the highest standards using well-maintained 'state-of-the-art' vessels.

The new deepsea tugs will be 75.00m in length overall, with a beam of 18.00m and maximum draft of 6.70m. Four Wartsilla main engines, delivering a total of 16,300bhp (12,000kW) at maximum continuous power, will drive a pair of controllable pitch propellers via twin input - single output reduction gearboxes.

The engines will run on heavy fuel oil (180cs) for maximum economy and fuel tanks will have a maximum capacity of 2100m 3.A bollard pull of 200 tonnes is specified and a maximum free running speed of 16.5 knots.

Electrically driven transverse bow and stern thrusters, of 832 and 736kW respectively, will have controllable pitch propellers.

Deck equipment will include a massive, triple-drum, waterfall type, towing and anchor-handling winch with a maximum brake holding load of 400 tonnes and line pull of 250 tonnes. The vessels will be fully equipped to handle anchors and moorings for rigs and FPSOs but no facilities to handle or transport bulk cargoes.

In recent years Fairmount has become well known in the long-range towing field and is the world-wide general-agent and the European Representative of Fukada Salvage & Marine Works Company Ltd, Japan's leading towage and salvage company.

Fairmount, with its own office in Guangzhou, has built up a very close working relationship with the three Chinese salvage and towage companies. Similar close ties exist with COSCO and with Hinode Kisen Company Ltd, a company Fairmount represented as exclusive general-agent until it was acquired by NYK.