TOWLINES

The jackets will be the base for two modules: the utility and living quarters platform and the central processing unit all destined for the British sector of the North Sea where the facility will produce natural gas for the UK market.

Detailed planning went into loading of the jackets on to a transport barge involving two tow-masters from Kotug Smit along with representatives from: Heerema, Mammoet, pilots and linesmen. The tow-masters were responsible for tug co-ordination during the operation.

A consortium led by Blue Water Shipping has been awarded a contract from Tengizchevroil (TCO) to supply six ASD tugs to assist barges transporting project cargoes.

The project is part of expansion of the Tengiz oilfield in Kazakhstan where a 75km long channel has been dredged to provide access to Prorva for offloading vessels and barges carrying project cargo including modular components. The tugs will be designed and built by Shipyard De Hoop in the Netherlands, delivery scheduled for first half of 2018. This is the fourth contract relating to expansion of Tengiz oilfield awarded to Blue Water Shipping who lead a consortium with Caspian Offshore Construction.

Consolidation is tipped to become a feature within the towage industry on an increasingly regular basis in the future and there is news of a notable development in the US. Moran Towing Corporation has announced completion of its acquisition of Puerto Rico Towing & Barge Co (PRT) headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico. PRT provide marine transportation services including harbour assistance, towing and emergency services to commercial vessels and barges from its base in San Juan. Moran was established over 150 years ago and has a formidable collection of tugs and barges (including articulated units) totalling over 395,000bhp.

GPS Marine feature elsewhere in this month’s column but made the news again when one of its workboat skippers needed to get ashore urgently.

The volunteer crew of Sea Palling independent lifeboat on the UK’s Norfolk coast received a request for help when the wife of the skipper of the Eurocarrier 2209 GPS Battler went into early labour, the skipper needed to be transported ashore urgently.

Bad weather and the size of the vessel left no quick options to berth at a suitable port and the crew of the Sea Palling lifeboat who were on exercise at the time were more than happy to help out and bring the tug’s skipper ashore. Two trips were made, the lifeboat also taking out a replacement skipper for GPS Battler, no doubt the employer hoping that he is not expecting anything imminently.

By Peter Barker