Ginger’ joins the Iskes fleet – by Jack Gaston

This latest addition to the Ijmuiden based fleet, an identical sister to the Brent, delivered earlier in the year, completes the current build programme and brings the total number of tugs based at the company’s operating base at Ijmuiden to eleven. Included in that total are four modern ASD shiphandling and offshore tugs, four azimuthing tractor tugs, two Voith tractors and one small traditional single screw vessel. The company also operate a small fleet of modern workboats, tenders and fast RIB passenger vessels in support of wind farm projects in the North Sea.

Ginger and Brent are the most powerful and versatile vessels in the fleet and are capable of working with the largest ships frequenting the North Sea Canal and Port of Amsterdam, as well as short sea towage and offshore operation. Both were completed in the Netherlands by Gebr Kooiman BV of Zwijndrecht. The tugs were built to the RAmparts 3200W design from Robert Alan Ltd of Vancouver and customised to meet the needs of the tug owner. Both vessels measure 32m in length, 12m beam, with a maximum draught of 5.21m, and are classed by Germanischer Lloyd; +100, A5, E, Tug, + MC, E, AUT, Fi-Fi 1 with water spray system.

Ginger and Brent are powered by two ABC 12VDZC diesel main engines, generating a total of approximately 7,200bhp (5,300kW) to drive Lips CS275 azimuthing propulsion units with controllable pitch propellers. This arrangement produces a sustained mean bollard pull of 83 tons ahead at full power, with a free running speed of 13.5 knots.

Two Ridderinkhof towing winches are fitted. A double drum winch located on the foredeck carries120m of 88mm diameter UHMWPE towline. On the after deck a double drum winch carries 150m of 88mm diameter UHMWPE and an 800m towline of 56mm diameter steel wire rope. Other deck machinery includes a tugger winch for line handling, a 120t SWL towing pin set, and a 29 tons/m capacity knuckle boom crane.

Brent and Ginger have been outfitted to the highest standards to accommodate up to seven people but will normally operate with a crew of three. The wheelhouse is designed for maximum all round visibility, with a single control station providing maximum visibility to both fore and aft working areas.

Another recent addition to the fleet of Iskes Towage & Salvage is the Italian built azimuthing tractor tug Tumak, purchased from Kotug. Formerly the ZP Tumak operating with the Kotug fleet in Hamburg, the 27m tractor is one of a trio of identical tugs originating from the shipyard of Cantieri Navali Ferrari on La Sezia in 1987. The tug has Deutz SBV.6M-628 main engines, delivering a total of 3,180bhp to give the vessel a bollard pull of 45 tons and a speed of 12 knots. In true Iskes fashion, Tumak was quickly dry docked and entered service at Ijmuiden looking immaculate in its new livery.