Towlines

The operating results of Smit International NV rose from 13.1m in 2002 to 29.3m in 2003. This included exceptional items totalling 3.6m negative (2002: 1.5m negative).

Non-consolidated associate companies returned 11.0m (2002: 9.1m) and interest charges fell from 10.4m in 2002 to 6.1m in 2003. The net profit per share, adjusted for repurchased shares, rose from 1.83 in 2002 to 3.62 in 2003.

The well-known salvage tug John Ross , in its day one of the two most powerful tugs ever built (with sister ship Wolraad Woltemade ), has been sold to Smit Dudula Marine and renamed Smit Amandla , in what is reported to be a black economic empowerment deal.

Smit Dudula Marine is a joint venture between Dutch salvage company Smit Marine and South African company Dudula Shipping . As part of the deal the tug has been transferred to the South African registry. Smit Amandla will remain on contract duty along the South African coast under the terms of the National Marine Pollution Prevention and Response contract.

Thames and Medway operator Carolcraft Ltd has announced its intention to withdraw from the local towage market and concentrate on labour hire and marina work. The single screw tug Sir Aubrey , recently overhauled, will be sold.

SirAubrey is a vessel of 59 gross tons, powered by a 600bhp Lister-Blackstone main engine.

WorldWise Marine Engineering BV has been responsible for the design of two powerful, 48.75m, anchor-handling tugs currently under construction. Both vessels are modified versions of the successful Tempest and Typhoon built some years ago for Bureau Wijsmuller . One tug is to be built by Hitzler in Germany for Harms Bergung Transport and Heavylift GmbH & Co of Hamburg, and the other by an un-named yard for the Suez Canal Authorities . Both tugs will have MAK main engines of 7826bhp, a bollard pull of 105 tonnes and maximum speed of 15 knots.

Amstelstroom , the first of the new Damen Shoalbuster 2609 series has been delivered to VanWijngaarden Marine Services BV in Sliedrecht, in the Netherlands (see cover story). Completed to a new, improved, Shoalbuster design by Damen Shipyards atHardinxveld, the 2230bhp twin-screw tug was specially customised for Wijngaarden.

An extensive description of this and a number of other new Shoalbusters will appear in the May issue of Maritime Journal.