The first two vessels, Neptun 9 and Neptune Mariner, are currently on route from China to Rotterdam, each with a new 140m x 20m hull in tow. Neptune 9 is a 36m anchor handling tug and utility vessel powered by Cummins main engines producing a total of 3,200bhp for a bollard pull of 42 tons. Neptune Mariner, also described as an anchor handling utility vessel, is 42m in length and has Caterpillar machinery of 3,350 bhp, giving it a similar bollard pull. It is hope that a full account of these new vessels will be possible in the near future.

Arrival in Rotterdam of the first two vessels and their tows is expected at the end of this month and the middle of next month. From those dates the tugs will be available to undertake international deep sea towage and/or time charters and, if necessary, both vessels can also be offered with seagoing flattop barges and/or other ‘auxiliary craft’ from Neptune Marine Service.

The Neptune Mate and Neptune Master, due to arrive later, are an almost identical pair. Neptune Mate will be 36m in length with bollard pull of approximately 50 tons while Neptune Master will measure 40m with a bollard pull of some 60 tons.

This newly formed fleet will be operated by the new Dutch International Towage Company BV, with the commercial and operational management undertaken by Landfall Transport & Towage of Sliedrecht. The latter will be known to many as the owners and managers of the tugs ‘Thomas de Gauwdief’ and ‘Soliman Reys’. Thomas de Gauwdief was sold last year to an Indian tug operator in Kakinada and the Soliman Reys recently commenced a long term time charter for Gaz de France in the North Sea as diving support vessel.