TOWLINES

The two new vessels are to be part of Svitzer’s towing and escorting operations on the Thames and at Felixstowe and follows hot on the heels of delivery of the Damen ASD 3213 Svitzer London now operating on the Thames. The new tugs will be built at Damen’s Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam and are due for delivery to Svitzer UK in October 2015.

The Shipowners Club is often approached for advice regarding non-customary towage and associated towing surveys and have recently published information including defining such and issues including requirements of Fitness to Tow warranties and the purpose of associated surveys.

The advice includes the importance of submitting towage service contracts to the Club for approval and the use of experienced and independent surveyors on Fitness to Tow assignments. Surveys include the tug, towed unit and any cargo on board and the advice includes a list of what these surveys should include along with Loss Prevention advice. The information can be viewed at their website www.shipownersclub.com .

Following on from the naming of the Rotortug RT Evolution at the recent Tugnology conference in London (reported elsewhere in this edition of MJ) Kotug have continued with the celebrations naming the second ART80-32 Hybrid Rotortug RT Emotion in Bremerhaven.

Ms. Annika Bootsman-Kleberg, Member of the Wallenius’ Board and granddaughter of Olof Wallenius, Swedish entrepreneur and founder of Wallenius Lines, performed the naming of RT Emotion accompanied by her family, friends along with Kotugs’ business relations and representatives of Damen Shipyards Group. Kotug chose the lady sponsor to express its gratitude for the long-term relationship and appreciation for Wallenius Lines’ strong focus on innovative technical and environmental solutions.

With the summer season now underway Poole, Dorset based Jenkins Marine are busy providing towage assistance to two ferries which provide a lifeline to the island of St Mary’s around 50km off Land’s End.

The workboat and dredging contractor are involved in extensive harbour modifications at St Mary’s Harbour and part of the existing berth used by the passenger ferry Scillonian III and cargo ship Gry Marthia is inaccessible following the removal of mooring bollards. Jenkins tug Polmear is on charter to assist the vessels’ movements and was particularly selected for the role due to its shallow draught of 1.7m and ability to dry out if required. Its 10tbp is ideal for either pushing the vessels on to the berth or towing them off, depending on wind strength and direction. Presence of the tug is also suited for assisting the movements of other marine plant including jack-ups and pontoon barges involved in the civil engineering work at the harbour.

By Peter Barker