TOWLINES

As anticipated, the French Prefecture Maritime has reacted to the withdrawal of the UK ETV Anglian Monarch from the Dover Strait by moving the ETV Abeille Languedoc into the area. The tug has been stationed in the port of Boulogne, a regular call for the Anglian Monarch when operating under French control as part of the 50-50 sharing arrangement with the Maritime & Coastguard Agency. Abeille Languedoc is a purpose built 160 tons bollard pull salvage tug that has been on charter to the French Government as an ETV since 1979, operating in various locations around the French coastline. Les Abeilles, subsidiary of Bourbon, operate the ETVs Abeille Bourbon, Abeille Liberté, Abeille Languedoc, Abeille Flandre and three oil spill response vessels on behalf of the Prefecture Maritime.

Signet Constellation, the first of two Robert Allan Ltd designed RAstar 3100 Class tanker handling and escort tugs, has been launched by Trinity Offshore LLC for the Signet Maritime Corp. The tugs will be used to provide terminal support services at the Angola LNG Supply Services facility in Pascagoula, Alabama USA. Two Caterpillar C175-16 main engines producing a total of 6,840 bhp to power a pair for fully azimuthing propulsion units to achieve a bollard pull of 80 tons and free running speed of at least 12.5 knots.

Union Wrestler, one of the recently constructed quartet of 85 tons bollard pull ASD anchorhandling tugs operated by Smit subsidiary URS of Antwerp, has commenced operation with Octomar in Angola in support of Total in the Pazflor offshore oil field. It joins sistership Union Warrior, which has already been on operating for Total in Angola under a 3 year contract for approximately 18 months. Along with their remaining sister ships Union Fighter and Union Boxer, the 40.65m tugs were built by Armon Shipyards of Asturias, Navia in Spain. All four tugs are fitted with ABC V12 MDZC main engines developing a total of 7,065bhp to drive Schottel SRP 2020FP propulsion units.