Tugs & Salvage

Shipyards are continuing to experience busy times with nine tug deliveries to report along with vessel order news held over from last month.

With a fleet of 440 vessels, Svitzer faces complex considerations when selecting a new tug, their primary focus being to always have the right tug for the job.

US and Canadian technology companies have joined together to launch a set of integrated features designed to ensure towage operators ‘never miss another job’ in their port.

Kongsberg Maritime has agreed a contract with Finnish tug owner Alfons Håkans providing its Extended Thruster Coverage (ETC) support to two new ice-breaking tugs.

Salvage teams never quite know what awaits them when they arrive at an incident and the first example in this selection demonstrates how they must be prepared for literally anything.

The International Salvage Union (ISU) has responded to the possible closure of Lloyd’s Salvage Arbitration Branch and risking the future of the globally recognised Lloyd’s Open Form (LOF) salvage agreement.

International Salvage Union legal adviser Rob Wallis has retired from the role he has held for the past eleven years.

South America’s Atria Logistics is making progress with the retrofit of its pushboat fleet with Thorndon’s water lubricated tailshaft and rudder bearings.

This month’s review covers tug deliveries and orders from European shipyards and a series of newbuildings from an Ohio USA-based yard with European connections.

Svitzer, Kongsberg Maritime and classification society ABS have signed an agreement to jointly develop RECOTUG, the ‘world’s first fully operational and remotely-controlled tug’.

Maritime and offshore synthetic fibre and steel wire rope manufacturer Lankhorst Ropes has introduced Lankoloop, described as the world’s quickest and easiest towing and mooring connection.

SAAM Towage has completed its acquisition of 70% of fellow South American tug operator Intertug in a deal valued at US$49.7M.

A high-powered group representing International Salvage Union (ISU) members are working with other parties to revise wreck removal contracts.

As the UK gradually emerges from winter we look back at activities that have kept the country’s northern towage fleet busy.

Finnish towage operator Alfons Håkans has formed a joint venture agreement with marine construction company Merikuriiri – Sea Courier Oy Ltd.

Amid a backlog of deliveries and orders building up we focus this month on two significant new tug arrivals and orders involving European shipyards.

Sanmar Shipyards is reflecting on a challenging but productive 2020, delivering a vessel almost every two weeks.

Svitzer has described the rationale behind recent expansion in Germany, highlighting how its global presence and scale of operation provide flexibility to adapt to changes in demand.

In another sign of consolidation within the towage industry Boluda Towage has acquired the port towage activities of Iskes Towage & Salvage.

MTU gas engines are to power the world’s first LNG-hybrid harbour tug for operation in Singapore, part of a 12-vessel order to be operated by Jurong Marine Services.