A Pusher Tug Returns to the Mersey

17 Dec 2007

A pusher tug and barge combination is in use on the Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal for the first time in a decade. Peel Ports’ Liverpool – Manchester Shuttle that started operation recently is capable of carrying up to 160 20ft ISO containers between Liverpool’s Royal Seaforth Docks and Manchester’s Irlam Container Terminal, journey of 40 miles up the River Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal. The pioneering trans-shipment service will transport a range of cargoes to the heart of the North West Region. 

GPS Marine Continues to Diversify

17 Dec 2007

GPS Marine Contractors Ltd, based at Chatham in Kent UK, is emerging as a major player in the marine sector, offering a wide range of services including towage, marine transportation, salvage, heavy-lift, marine civil engineering, demolition and dredging. 

Busy Sanmar Extend Their Product Range

17 Dec 2007

Sanmar Denizcilik Makina ve Ticaret Ltd of Istanbul is well known as one of the leading tugboat companies in Turkey and also as specialist tug builder. In addition to providing towage and pilotage services, the family run company has built tugs and workboats in their own shipyard for many years, initially for their own tug fleet but more recently for the global market. 

Operations Have Started at Hammerfest

17 Dec 2007

In Norway a new fleet of tugs owned by Buksér og Berging AS is now fully operational to fulfil a Statoil contract, providing shiphandling, escort and mooring services at Melkřya liquefied natural gas terminal near Hammerfest in northern Norway. The new tug service was inaugurated when the first LNG ship 'Arctic Princess' arrived at the terminal.  

China Builds RAmparts 3000 Tugs for the First Time

17 Dec 2007

Cheoy Lee Shipbuilders of Hong Kong has delivered the first of a pair of  RAmparts 3000  Class ship handling tugs, the 'Harry Evans' to Svitzer Australasia. The tugs are built to the highly successful  RAmparts 3000 design developed by Robert Allan Ltd., naval architects of Vancouver, for worldwide construction and service. 

TOWLINES

17 Dec 2007

Late in November Newcastle based Osprey Shipping Ltd welcomed home their new tug 'Osprey Fighter' and barge 'Osprey Carrier'. The new vessels were constructed in China and arrived in the Tyne after a grueling and eventful delivery voyage from the Far East. The purpose built 50 tons bollard pull ASD tug and the new 4,464 dwt heavy deck cargo barge represent a considerable investment for the British company, which will employ the vessels for coastal and deep sea transportation. A full account of the new tug and barge will appear in the January 2008 issue. 

Business as Usual as Klyne is Taken Over

17 Dec 2007

Britain’s oldest tug and barge company J P Knight, has announced in a joint statement that the J P Knight Group has acquired a majority interest in Klyne Tugs, the current provider of Emergency Towing Vessels (ETVs) to the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA).