Tugs & Salvage

Just how widespread is digitisation within the marine port environment, especially for the ‘first and last mile’ of a ship’s voyage involving service providers including towage operators.

The towing industry has had the first glimpse of what Damen describes as ‘the world’s first fully electric shiphandling tug’ with launching of Ports of Auckland’s ‘Sparky’.

We look at just three tug deliveries from Sanmar and Damen this month along with a notable order for a new vessel for Svitzer on the river Thames.

The Netherlands Coast Guard has increased its emergency towing provision in the North Sea with a powerful tug to guard the Borssele offshore windfarm.

We got 59,115 hours on those engines without even removing a head. For Seaspan International however, re-engining the 47-year-old tug Seaspan Cavalier was a worthwhile investment.

Damen Shipyards recently took advantage of a unique opportunity to deliver a five-vessel order to three separate customers in Canada.

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has issued a General Exemption to remedy an ‘administrative irregularity’ concerning certification of workboats.

Following Sanmar’s discontinuation of the tug marque bearing the same name Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) has described further the replacement in its RApport 1900SX harbour tug.

Forth Ports Ltd and Targe Towing Ltd have jointly announced that Forth Ports has acquired the entire share capital of Targe Towing.

The port of Zeebrugge has welcomed two new tugs with arrival of VB Bolero and VB Rumba for Boluda Towage Europe.

The annual Salvage and Wreck Removal Conference has taken place with salvage, insurance and legal communities reported to be ‘focused together on this important industry’.

There are ten recent deliveries of note to report this month from shipyards both within Europe and those beyond with important European content.

Smit Salvage has been awarded a five-year contract to provide emergency response support to floating assets located in Brazilian waters.

Multraship Towage & Salvage has provided emergency response services in the Black Sea and Denmark.

Recent activities for Tsavliris Salvage have highlighted that complexities often extend beyond just sending a tug to tow a vessel to safety.

Flag state authorities in Luxembourg have issued an immediate action safety bulletin following loss of the anchor-handling tug supply vessel ‘Bourbon Rhode’.

Boston USA-based Sea Machines Robotics is supplying a remote helm control system for Herman Sr. BV’s Shoalbuster tug ‘Teddy’.

Sanmar Shipyards and Schottel are extending a partnership dating back 16 years following a framework agreement to supply thrusters for the Turkish yard’s Bigaçay class newbuilding tugs.

This month’s review of newbuild tug deliveries and orders focuses on two of the best known and most prolific builders of such vessels, Damen Shipyards Group and Sanmar Shipyards.