A Closer Look at 'Abeille Liberte'

01 Apr 2006

The entry into service of two advanced Emergency Towing Vessels (ETVs), Abeille Bourbon and Abeille Liberte, designed to provide emergency response services along the French coastline and western approaches, was reported in these pages in May and October of last year. Since then both tugs have assisted a number of casualties and continue to settle down in the ETV role. As part of the familiarisation process Abeille Liberte visited Britain for a couple of days in March to participate in the MCA emergency response event Exercise Bluewater. 

TOWLINES

01 Apr 2006

Smit has ordered a total of 18 new vessels as part of an ongoing fleet renewal programme aimed at autonomous growth, fleet renewal and optimisation. Damen Shipyards in the Netherlands are to build eleven new tugs for the harbour towage division. 

Irving Complete Two More Tugs for Nordane

01 Apr 2006

Irving Shipbuilding Inc of Halifax, Nova Scotia, are in the process of completing the second azimuthing stern drive (ASD) tug for Nordane Shipping of Svenborg in Denmark. 

'Carlo Magno': Designed to be Cost Effective

01 Apr 2006

Many tug owners involved in coastal and deepsea towage are faced with serious decisions regarding future investment and the likely returns on that investment. The replacement of older but still functional deepsea tugs which may have been operating on relatively low rates is a particular problem.