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And More ETVs to Come
01 Mar 2005
The provision of Emergency Towing Vessels (ETVs) is becoming a serious issue for many governments and coastal states and is increasingly seen as a tangible preventative measure capable of dealing with a wide range of potential maritime incidents. ETVs have now been in service in many countries, including the UK for several years and the type of vessel most suited for this work is beginning to emerge.
An adapted offshore anchor-handling supply vessel configuration is proving to be the most popular and Rolls Royce Marine have been quick to offer suitable variants of their well-known UT designs for the purpose. Since 1975, more than 450 UT series vessels have been supplied mainly to the offshore industry and the company is now successfully bringing this experience into the naval and governmental market for Economic Exclusion Zone ships to monitor, patrol and protect national waters.
Two type UT 719T vessels, Anglian Princess and Anglian Sovereign make up half of the UK ETV fleet, permanently on station in four locations. The most recent delivery is the K/VHarstad , a purpose designed UT 512 vessel for the Norwegian Coastguard. During the next two to three months France take delivery of two salvage and rescue vessels, the Abeille Bourbon and Abeille Liberte , to replace two earlier ETVs on station in the western approaches to the French coast and English Channel.
Further afield, India is building three vessels of the Rolls-Royce UT517 design to boost the country's coastguard and pollution control capability.
More detailed accounts of these important new vessels will appear in future issues of MJ .
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