TOWLINES

In March the French ETV AbeilleBourbon carried out a successful four hour towing exercise organised by the French Maritime Prefecture with the containership CMA CGM Marco Polo in the western approaches. CMA CGM Marco Polo, the largest containership in the world, capable of carrying 16,020 TEU, simulated damage to its propulsion system when leaving the Ouessant traffic separation scheme. The vessel positioned itself across the wind and due to its size the containership soon began to drift. Abeille Bourbon carried out a number of trial manoeuvres and towing connections and proved its ablity to tow the ship at 6.7 knots with a bollard pull of approximately 90 tonnes.

Royal Boskalis Westminster NV (Boskalis) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sudamericana Agencias Aereas y Maritimas S.A. (SAAM) for a joint harbour towage operation within the American Continent. The partnership involves two joint ventures and is between SMIT, a wholly owned subsidiary of Boskalis, and SAAM. The first joint venture covers the Brazilian towage market where both companies are currently active. Boskalis with SMIT will have a 51% majority share with a total of 41 tugs. In the second joint venture SAAM will hold a 51% majority stake relating to towage activities in Panama and Canada (SMIT) and Mexico (SAAM). That consortium will operate a total of 55 tugs. The joint operation between SMIT and SAAM will create a leading provider of towage services in Central and South America.

Turkish tugbuilder Uzmar has completed two Robert Allan designed RAstar 3200 tugs for Australian owner Robe River Mining Co Pty Ltd. Named Barrura and Gurrgura, the vessels will be managed by Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd of Perth and registered in Dampier. The 32m tugs are equipped for fire fighting and powered by Caterpillar 3516C diesels generating a total of 6,386 bhp for a maximum bollard pull of 80 tonnes. Both vessels are being delivered under their own power, with a Redwise crew undertaking the voyage from Izmit, Turkey to Freemantle.