TOWLINES

Built in 2000, the former URS tug is a Damen Stantug 2207 powered by two Caterpillar 3508B diesels delivering an output of 2,130 bhp and a bollard pull of 31.1 tonnes. A 70 ton brake load Kraaijeveld hydraulic towing winch is fitted aft and accommodation is provided for a crew of six persons.

En Avant 9 will initially serve Dordrecht, Moerdijk and surrounding ports providing harbour assistance and will also be available for seagoing and harbour towage in northwest Europe.

Vancouver based tug designer Robert Allan Ltd recently announced its election as the Charter Corporate Member of the Canadian Institute of Marine Engineering (CIMarE), the first such appointment with the roll number 0001. Robert Allan Ltd features regularly in this column providing tug designs globally including an increasing presence in Europe and CIMarE’s corporate membership scheme is an effort to further engage corporations, organisations, societies and professional associations in support of the activities of the organisation. The announcement came on the eve of the 2015 Annual Mari-Tech Conference in which Robert Allan contributed to discussions about escort tug design, tanker safety and a presentation covering the two distinct modes of tug operation: escort and rescue towing.

Another memorable occasion for the towage and salvage industry came with the awarding of the International Salvage Union’s Meritorious Service Award for Outstanding Service to the Salvage Industry to Titan Salvage and Italian engineering partner Micoperi. The award was presented at the ISU’s Associate Member’s Day Conference in London and was made in recognition of Titan and Micoperi’s outstanding service during the successful execution of the largest single maritime wreck removal project ever undertaken following the stranding of the cruise ship Costa Concordia.

Todd Busch, senior vice president and general manager of Crowley Maritime Corporation (parent company of Titan Salvage) said: “It was a true privilege to accept this award on behalf of the TITAN/Micoperi team and the hundreds of people who have worked tirelessly on this project.”

Two crewmen had a lucky escape after their tug Asterix capsized and sank while working at ExxonMobil’s Fawley oil refinery in the Solent. A full-scale rescue operation was launched following the incident and after one crewman was recovered from the water an unnamed employee of Solent Towage was described as “the hero of the night” when he caught sight of the second crewman still on the tug. He boarded the capsized vessel, smashed a window and pulled him to safety.

Both men were unharmed and the incident is currently under investigation by the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch.

By Peter Barker