Tugs & Salvage

DynaRep Shipping Consultants has announced expansion plans involving collaborations with Fairplay Towage Group Germany and Marina Offshore Singapore.

Williams Shipping has demonstrated its land and sea capabilities transferring part of an oil refinery from shore to ship.

Helsinki-based Wärtsilä has achieved what it calls a “breakthrough” in its IntelliTug project with trials underway following installation of a DP system on the tug PSA Polaris.

Towage company Svitzer and technology services provider Rolls-Royce have signed a long-term service agreement covering the preventative spare parts supply for 17 tugs powered by MTU Series 4000 engines.

Boluda Towage Europe has taken a further step towards operating an environmentally friendly fleet with Europe’s first tug retrofit to meet IMO Tier III standards.

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published its report on the investigation into an accident where a tug’s chief engineer lost his life boarding his vessel.

Following the customary lull over the holiday period, tug delivery and orders since the last round-up show every sign of continuing the healthy activity of 2019.

The International Salvage Union has reported a positive reaction from respondents to research commissioned to properly understand how itself and the salvage industry is regarded.

The independent and confidential CHIRP maritime incident reporting system has focused on tug safety issues including problems handling heavy tow lines.

Following a busy 2019 for deliveries and orders, 2020 starts somewhat quieter and includes further investment by Boluda following its takeover of Kotug Smit Towage last year.

Svitzer has announced its acquisition of Port Towage Amsterdam, a joint venture between Svitzer and Iskes Towage and Salvage formed in 2014.

Marin Tug & Pilotage has praised the influence of Sanmar Shipyards in its success after it was named one of the winners in the recent tug licence allocation in Turkey.

Developments with tugs of the future features prominently in this month’s Tugs & Towing, an LNG-fuelled pushboat included here in our delivery and order round-up.

Technology company ABB has signed a contract with Singapore-based Keppel Offshore & Marine to enable autonomous tug operations in 2020.

The Accidents Investigation Branch Norway (AIBN) has published its report into the grounding and sinking of a tug off Farsund in 2017.

Tokyo Kisen Co Ltd and Tokyo-based e5 Lab Inc have jointly developed a new concept design for an electrically powered, hydrogen fuel cell harbour tug.

Ireland-based Jospa Ltd has developed the intriguing concept of a wave motion-propelled tug being simple in principle but quite unlike anything before, in fact is it a vessel at all?

Finnish tug operator Alfons Håkans has bareboat chartered two ASD harbour tugs to strengthen its towing capacity in Estonia.

The drive for tug fleet renewal and upgrades shows no sign of abating with 13 deliveries and eight orders reported, most with a significant European involvement.

Port of Antwerp has ordered a hydrogen-powered tug that will be first of its type in the world and the lowest-rated for emissions on the market.