Tugs & Salvage

The European Tugowners Association (ETA) has debated safe harbour towage operations and the business prospects of the industry at its annual meeting in Limassol.

IHC has revealed a new escort tug design aimed at addressing safety considerations, particularly with the handling of LNG carriers.

Damen Marine Components (DMC) has expanded its component supply network with its acquisition of Dutch systems manufacturer WK Hydraulics.

Activity in the tug design and construction market shows no sign of letting up with no fewer than 10 items of news to report this month

Boskalis subsidiary Smit Salvage has been appointed salvor for two tankers and their cargo following suspected attacks on the vessels in the Gulf of Oman.

The UK has a new SOSREP with the appointment of Stephan Hennig by the MCA to the role of overseeing the UK’s response to accidents at sea.

A snapshot of activity covering just a few months makes it clear there will always be work for the global salvage industry.

Towing’s global influence is reflected in news from Svitzer concerning expansion in Brazil, a contract signing in the Caribbean and divesting of its Portuguese operation.

Dutch ship designer OSD-IMT has rekindled memories of its history with a new design of compact anchor-handling tug.

Some months produce something of a drought when reporting new tug deliveries, not so this time around with ten new arrivals to mention, eight of which emanate from Damen Shipyards.

Key players from the world of towing have attended ‘Tugnology ‘19’ the biennial technical conference discussing developments within the industry.

Damen Maaskant shipyard in Stellendam is busy putting final touches to the latest delivery for Multraship, the RSD 2513 tug Multratug 6.

Salvors are battling to save a bulk carrier and minimise pollution following its grounding on a sensitive reef on Rennell Island, part of the remote Solomon Islands.

Van Wijngaarden Marine Services’ Shoalbuster Lingestroom has become the first vessel to receive Green Award certification for a new ship type, Offshore Supply vessels.

Global towage operator Svitzer, along with its key partners recently held the christening ceremony for the tug Svitzer Meridian, the latest and tenth vessel in its Port of London fleet.

Sanmar and Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) have provided background details of the order for two custom-designed escort tugs for operation in Finland.

Rope manufacturer Samson along with the Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network (Alaska Network) and Norwegian Coast Guard have completed trials of its EVATS emergency towing system.

Greek emergency responder Tsavliris Salvage has taken part in two incidents providing professional intervention that avoided making headlines as environmental disasters.

“This tug is the ultimate in the field of customisation that it virtually becomes a different model” Sanmar’s description of a tractor tug order for Italian tug owner Rimorchiatori Riuniti.

Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) has provided details of two recently delivered tugs built to its designs by shipyards in the US and China.