Point Gilbert worked successfully with the Cory (later Svitzer ) fleet at Avonmouth/Royal Portbury until 2001 when it was transferred to the Clyde.

In June, Tug Malta placed an order with Damen Shipyards , Gorinchem for a second ASD tug, a compact tug to the Damen ASD 2411 design with delivery scheduled for December 2006.

The order follows hard on the heels of a contract for a larger Damen ASD Tug 3111 placed in April and due for completion in February 2006. Tug Malta's fleet currently comprises six tugs including twin screw, azimuthing tractor and stern drive tugs, with bollard pulls of between 32 and 55 tons.

Rederi AB Nestor (a subsidiary of Marine Carrier AB ) of Pitea, Sweden has purchased the 8,400 bhp deepsea tug, Panagiotakis Star , formerly Anglian Duke (ex Endurance , Azzurro Primo , Maersk Blower ) from Megalohari Offshore Actividades Maritimas Lda of Madeira. The tug was built in the Odense Shipyard in Denmark in 1977. Its new owners will take advantage of its Ice Class 3 rating and employ it in the towing of deck barges in the Baltic region bearing the new name Hercules .