Sinbad Marine purchase Bison – by Jack Gaston
The fleet of Sinbad Marine Services received a substantial boost in the New Year with the purchase of the former Norwegian tug ‘Bison’. Formerly owned by Bukser og Berging AS, the vessel is a 30m tractor tug equipped with twin fully azimuthing propulsion units.
Sinbad intend to operate the vessel out of its homeport of Killybegs in the northwest of Ireland, bearing the name SMS Bison and under the Irish flag. It will carry out shiphandling and other harbour duties locally and when necessary operate on the spot market.
Built in 1981, the vessel has been maintained in DNV class throughout its lifetime and is reported to be in impeccable condition. The tug is capable of shiphandling, short sea towage, anchorhandling, oil rig support and escort work. Two Bergen Diesel LDMB-8 main engines generate a total of 3,126bhp to give the vessel a bollard pull of 47 tons and a free running speed of 12.5 knots.
A Karmoy towing winch carries1,000m of 48mm steel wire rope (SWR) and is supplemented by a tugger winch with 300m of 48mm SWR and a Heila HLRM 35/3S marine crane. SMS Bison is also equipped for fire fighting with water/foam monitors rated at 440 cu/m/hr (water).
The purchase of the SMS Bison brings the total number of vessels in the Sinbad fleet to eight, including a newly constructed12m survey vessel from the local boatyard, Mooney Boats. This latest purchase was made with the assistance of the Norwegian brokerage company J Gran & Co AS.
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