TOWLINES

An act of piracy involving a tug and barge in Malaysian waters has led to a director of the tug owning company appealing to the towage industry and brokers worldwide for help. The company’s tug, Marina 26, reported that it had been hijacked by pirates on 22 March off Tioman Island, Malaysia. After two days of heading east and being held hostage, the crew were left at sea in a life raft by the pirates. Fortunately they were rescued by a passing fishing boat on 26 May and put ashore. The Captain reported that the pirates had repainted the tug green. Owner Primarina Trading Pte of Singapore is convinced that the pirates intend to take the vessel rather than ask for a ransom. All relevant authorities have been informed, including the insurer. Company director Ms.Trsya is asking for help in spreading the news and looking for any possible assistance to locate the tug and its tow, which may be put up for sale in the Philippines and East Malaysia, the direction in which the pirates appear to be heading. Ms.Tresya can be contacted by phone; +65 9639 1050 and +62 855 655 0000 or e-mail tresya@gmail.com

US towage concern Signet Maritime Corporation is to be the first to install the new Caterpillar C175 ACERT 16-cylinder main engines in two support/escort tugs being built in Gulfport, Mississippi. Each engine is rated at 3,417bhp and represents the next generation in technology meeting the offshore emissions requirements, including EPA Tier 3, EU Stage IIIA, and IMO Marine Tier II. The RAL designed RAstar 3100 class tugs will provide marine services for Angola LNG Supply Services (ALSS) vessels using the Port of Pascagoula. Delivery is expected in October of this year.

British tug owner Targe Towing Ltd has purchased the 33m tug Hemiksem from URS, the Belgian subsidiary of Smit. Hemiksem is one of a successful series of ASD tugs built for use in Antwerp in 1985 and powered by two Deutz SBV 8M628 diesels producing a total of 3,600bhp. The engines are coupled to a pair of Aquamaster propulsion units to achieve a bollard pull of 40 tons. Targe has stationed its new acquisition in the Thames to operate alongside the chartered Smith Ahoada in and around the Tilbury area.

Offshore Ship Designers (OSD), based in IJmuiden, have been contracted to design two Azistern 24/56 tugs for POET (Pacific Offshore Engineering & Trading Pte Ltd). The 25.85m tugs will by powered by Cummins QSK-60 main engines and Rolls-Royce propulsion units to produce a bollard pull of 56 tons and service speed of 11.5 knots. Both tugs will have accommodation for 10 persons and be fitted for fire fighting to FiFi 1 standard. This Azistern 2400 series can be up graded to 70 tons bollard pull. The vessels will be constructed by a Chinese shipyard under ABS supervision.

The tug Ada D, well known around the coasts of Europe and the UK in a number of roles, has been given an overhaul and a new identity. Owned by Eermat BV of Rotterdam and managed by Stemat under the Dutch flag, the vessel has been given a few modifications and a new coat of paint. It has also been renamed Marian V in recognition of a much appreciated member of the Stemat staff in Rotterdam. Marian V is a 29m twin screw tug, powered by Caterpillar diesels of 2,028bhp and was originally built as the Amarante in France in 1984.