Towlines

Operated by Nordane Shipping A/S of Denmark the tug capsized and sank in 80m of water while handling an anchor for the pipelaying vessel Castoro Otto .The weather at the time was reported good and the tug overturned without warning and sank within minutes, leaving no survivors.

The Voith Schneider tractor tug Tramontane has been sold by Dutch operator Kotug International BV to Green Sea Shipping Ltd of Gibraltar and will be based at Waterford in Ireland.

Tramontane (exMarseillias 16) is a twin Voith tractor of 2500bhp and 31.63m in length built in 1972.

Towage major Smit International NV has begun construction of a new headquarters at pier 3 in Rotterdam’s Waalhaven.

The new headquarters will bring a number of activities previously spread out around the Rotterdam area under one roof. For many years the existing Smit headquarters has stood in the centre of the city, right next to the Erasmusbrug, a scenic location but remote from the real work of the company. Once built the new complex will also feature moorings for floating sheerlegs, ships and barges. A total of about 400 people will be employed at the new location and site will be fully operational by January 2005.

International Tug & Salvage Convention and Exhibition ( ITS2004 ) at the Bal Harbour inMiami on the 26-30 of April next year are well advanced.

The conference programme has been published and with over 30 speakers promises to cover a wide range of subjects affecting the towage and salvage industries.

Delegates registering before the 22nd of December are entitled to a 10% discount.

On the 1 October, after five years as Managing Director of Union de Remorquage & de Sauvetage SA (URS) of Antwerp, Mr Dirk Mertens has left the organisation. Mr Mertens, who recently completed a a term of office as Chairman of the European Tugowners Association has joined the holding company Bofort Ltd as Chief Executive Officer.