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Klyne Get Two Year Extension on ETV Contract
01 Dec 2006
The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has awarded Klyne Tugs (Lowestoft) Limited a two year extension to the contract to provide Emergency Towing Vessels (ETVs) at four strategic areas around the UK coast. This further award extends the current eight year contract until 3 September 2011.
Managing director Carl Beare formally signed the agreement at the MCA headquarters in Southampton on 30 November and commented, ‘Since the original contract was signed in 2001 the tugs have been involved in providing emergency towing services and environmental protection duties on numerous occasions. We are contracted to give 24 hour cover 365 days of the year and the tugs have gone to the assistance of many vessels, in all weather conditions.
On several occasions the ETVs have averted potentially dangerous situations from developing into major incidents where loss of life and marine pollution was a distinct possibility. I must pay tribute to the Masters and crews of the ETV’s, who are often operating in severe weather conditions and in dangerous locations and have built up an excellent working relationship with their supervisors and colleagues in the MCA.’
Signing the contract for the Coastguard, Mr John Astbury, chief executive of the MCA said, ‘I am very pleased about the finalisation of the contract extension. The removal of the threat of marine pollution is the primary task for the ETV's. Each vessel has been engaged in such operations during the existing contract. Clearly prevention is better than cure where removing such threat means there is no actual marine pollution. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency look forward to working closely with Klyne Tugs Lowestoft and with the Masters and crew of the four emergency towing vessels for the duration of the extended contract.’
The current ETV fleet of four tugs includes the purpose built offshore tugs Anglian Monarch on station in the Straits of Dover in joint operation with the French Maritime Authorities, the ‘Anglian Princess’ on station in the western approaches at Falmouth and the ‘Anglian Sovereign’ based off the north west coast of Scotland at Stornoway. The powerful salvage tug Anglian Prince is currently based in Lerwick to cover the east coast and sea areas of northern Scotland.
Since Klyne Tugs took over the current full time contract in 1999, a number of awards and commendations have been made to the Captains and crews of the ETVs for their bravery and skill. Several of the tug masters have many years of experience in the ocean towing and salvage sector and only quite recently Captain Jorge Kanthak celebrated his fifteenth year with the firm. His story is typical of other ETV masters, who came to the company with vast experience, having been involved with many spectacular salvage and rescue operations.
By JACK GASTON
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