Iskes spectacular fleet expansion continues

The company was formed in 1968 when Mr Ben Iskes acquired an established tug

and

barge operation with a history dating back to 1928

.

Included in the fleet taken over by the original company, Sleepdienst B Iskes & Zn, were the three small tugs,

Triton, Thetis

and

Argus

.

Although those early vessels have since been sold the names have been perpetuated in the present fleet

.

Much of the work in those early days was centred around a thriving fishing industry in the port of Ijmuiden

.

Since then the business

and

the tug fleet has grown gradually, to become a major player in the Dutch towage industry

.

Ben’s son Jim first started work in the company as a tug master but has now taken over the daily management from his father

and

is actively exp

and

ing the business into other marine sectors

.

On visiting the Ijmuiden fleet the first impression gained by your correspondent was one of enthusiasm

and

confidence, generated by the rapid growth in the business

and

the prospect of at least two more br

and

new tugs in the very near future

.

The present fleet of nine vessels is an interesting mix of new

and

old, all maintained in immaculate condition

.

At the heart of the present fleet are the

Triton

and

Thetis

, both powerful

and

agile ASD tugs with 70

and

65 tonnes bollard pull respectively

.

Triton is a Robert Alan designed RAmpart 3200 series vessel delivered by Turkish yard Dearsan in 2008

.

The 32m tug is powered by two, ABC 8 DZC, main engines delivering a total of 5400 bhp to a pair of Schottel SRP 1515 CP propulsion units

.

Intended principally as a shiph

and

ling

and

terminal tug,

Triton

is very well equipped for deep sea

and

offshore operation with towing winches fore

and

aft

and

a fire fighting system to FiFi 1 st

and

ard

.

Two further tugs of the same basic type but with more powerful machinery, to achieve a bollard pull of 80 tonnes, are scheduled to join the fleet by the end of the year

.

Named

Brent

and

Ginger

these latest additions are being completed by Gebr Kooiman in Dordrecht using subcontracted hulls

and

major steel work

.

At the time of writing the first tug Brent was carrying out preliminary trials prior to dry-docking, painting

and

final commissioning in readiness for delivery in September

.

Iskes first newbuilding, the 4,800 bhp ASD tug Thetis became part of the fleet in 2003

and

marked a significant change in the company’s fortunes

.

Thetis

was built in the Netherl

and

s at the IHC Sliedrecht shipyard

and

is powered by Wartsilla main engines

and

Lips propulsion units

.

Again, this vessel is extremely well fitted out

and

equipped to carry out a wide variety of work

.

As the company’s workload has increased Iskes has purchased a number of secondh

and

tugs to meet its commitments until new tonnage could be made available

.

The process of preparing those vessels for use in the fleet has been extensive

and

impressive,

and

a tribute to Jim Iskes approach to the business

.

Each new acquisition has been stripped

and

overhauled, often in great detail,

and

far from just a ‘quick paint job’

.

An outst

and

ing example is the 29m Schottel tractor tug

Arion

, purchased in 2000 from a UK operator

and

a vessel well known to your correspondent

.

Originally the German tug

Karl

, built in 1976,

and

later the

Flying Kestrel

, the vessel has been completely refurbished

and

is now in remarkable condition

.

A pair of ABC 6MDZC diesels have been fitted

and

now generate 4,600 bhp to power the original Schottel propulsion units to give the tug a bollard pull of 40 tonnes

.

The attention to detail is impressive

and

the entire vessel has a ‘very new feel’ about it

.

More recently Iskes has purchased a Voith tractor from the UK

and

two former German Schottel tractor tugs from Bugsier

.

The Voith tractor, formerly

Smit Gladstone

, is in the process of being completely refurbished

and

put into service as the Hercules

and

the remaining pair of 32 tonne bollard pull tractors have already been renamed

Sirius

and

Saturnus

.

The vessels h

and

led by the Iskes fleet range from trawlers at the IJmuiden fish terminals to Cape-size bulker carriers delivering iron ore or coal to the Corus steel plant

and

tankers

and

container ships entering the IJmuiden locks inbound for Amsterdam

.

Tugs are manned on a 24/7 basis with experienced crews, many who have been with the company for many years

.

Iskes Towage & Salvage can also undertake seagoing operations

and

offshore work where the exceptional manoeuvrability of a powerful ASD tug is advantageous

.

The company also provide support services, salvage operations, wind farm projects, work-boats

and

fast crew transportation

.

For the future, Iskes is participating in the ‘Green Tug’ project, initiated by Offshore Ship Designers

and

involving at least one other major Dutch towage operator, with a view to introducing a hydrogen-powered tug into service in 2010

.

This has now been backed by the Dutch government, which has given Iskes a support grant from the Ministry of Transport, Public Works

and

Water Management to further develop the technical concept of the Hydrogen Hybrid Harbour Tug (HHHT) under the Subsidy for Maritime Innovation (SMI) scheme

.