TOWLINES

Gatto was built at Rosetti Marino’s San Vitale shipyard and is equipped for escort duties. With a length of 29.5m, beam 11m and draught 2.5m the tug is powered by two GE 12V228 main engines each developing 2,450kW at 1,050rpm, driving Voith Schneider type 30 R5/265-2 propellers producing 73tbp and speed 12.5kn.

Rolls-Royce supplied two winches, a TWH 1500/140AWU22U2 anchor and towing winch on the foredeck and type ETWH 2500/650 escort winch aft. Escort performance figures are maximum braking force 78t and maximum steering force 56t both at eight knots.

Crowley Marine Services will not be providing oil spill prevention and response services in Valdez and Prince William Sound when its contract expires in 2018. Crowley has provided the service since 1990 but despite bidding aggressively for the contract extension they were not chosen to retain entire scope of the current contract.

While expressing their disappointment at the outcome Crowley stress they are fully committed to maintaining the responsibility they have to protecting Valdez and Prince William Sound and will be fully engaged in any transition process.

There is sad news from the south west of England with the report that Griffin TMS Ltd have entered administration. The Devon based towage company was established in its present form in 2014 as a collaboration and joint venture between Griffin Towage & Marine and Teignmouth Maritime Services (TMS Marine).

Griffin’s tugs have been seen regularly around the UK for many years, engaged in coastal tows along with involvement in emergency rescue, surveying and diving work. They are known for giving new life to small tugs which could otherwise be considered past their prime and their well turned out fleet over the years have included the Goliath, Kingston, Sandsfoot Castle, Princeton and Knighton.

Following the theme of old tugs that would otherwise be considered to have served their time and due for the breaker’s torch there is news that one of Svitzer’s older UK-built tugs has been sold on for further duties with Carriacou Yacht Services in Grenada.

The immediately recognisable (azimuth) tractor tug Norton Cross was built in 1984 by Richard Dunston (Hessle) and is powered by two Ruston engines providing 3,400bhp and 43tbp. It has retained its name over the years with a succession of different owners including Tees Towing, Cory and Svitzer Marine. After a passage from the UK via Las Palmas, the newly renamed Midgard Max will not be feeling lonely however in its new home in sunnier climes as it will be joining its near sister, the slightly older Coatham Cross also built by Dunston and now carrying the name La Dani.

By Peter Barker