The tug North – a new kid on the block
Sharp eyed readers will have become aware of the new tug North carrying out coastal and short sea towage operations around western Europe. Built in Malaysia in 2007, the twin screw tug is operated by Rotterdam based Avra Towage BV under the Dutch Antilles flag.
North is a vessel of 30m long overall, with a beam of 8.6m and draft (aft) of 3.50m. It is classed by Bureau Veritas 1 3/3 E Tug for Unrestricted Service. The tug is a product of the Kian Juran – Miri shipyard and was one of a series of similar vessels. It was launched as the
Donga North 9
.Two Caterpillar 3508B main engines have a total output of 2,000 bhp to turn a pair of four blade, fixed pitch, Mikado propellers rotating in 2.2m short nozzles. A bollard pull of approximately 28 tons is quoted and a free running speed of 12 knots.
A double drum towing and anchor handling winch is fitted, along with a Mampaey quick release towing hook. The winch carries 830m of 38mm diameter steel wire rope on the towing drum and a 600m work wire on the anchor handling drum.
On its delivery voyage from Malaysia in 2007, North diverted to the Black Sea to collect the partially completed cargo ship Victoriadiep for towage to Rotterdam. Since then the tug has been active on a number of coastal towing operations including work with the specialist Ro-Ro transport barge Terra Marique of Robert Wynn & Sons Ltd. It is understood that Avra Towage is in the process of acquiring at least one more tug of the same type.
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