Towlines
French shipbuilder Socarenam of Boulogne has completed Rascas a Voith-Schneider tractor for the French Navy. The tug is powered by two Baudouin 12P15-LS diesels of 660bhp each, driving type18GII/115 Voith propulsion units.
Rascas left Boulogne at the end of November for Toulon where she was formally handed over to the Navy on the 15 December.
Dutch towage contractor Wijngaarden Marine Services BV has placed an order with Damen Shipyards of Hardinxveld for a new Shoalbuster 2609 , To be named Amstelstroom , the vessel will be built to the improved seagoing design but with a higher ‘customised’ wheelhouse and superstructure. Delivery is expected in the first half of 2004.
Portland Port Authority are in the process of reconfiguring their tug fleet, after withdrawing from coast and short sea towage. Two of the existing three-tug fleet, Sandsfoot Castle and Maiden Castle , have been sold and a further ‘Dog’ class vessel purchased. Sandsfoot remains in the UK and is now in the ownership of N Murray ofQueenborough in Kent as the Pioneer and Maiden Castle hasgone to a buyer in Bahrein. The former MoD dockyard tug Dalmatian has been purchased to supplement the existing ‘Dog’ vessel Rufus Castle and a further purchase is reported to be under negotiation.
The recent integration of the former Australian tugs Redcliffe and Gurrong into the Adsteam tug fleet on the Thames, two of the existing fleet have been redeployed.
Sun Surrey , a 40 tonnes bollard pull Voith tractor, has been moved to Liverpool and the single screw tug Ganges to Humberside.
Related Articles
EQUIPMENT
MARINE CONSTRUCTION
FEATURES & VIDEOS