TUGS & SALVAGE

Towlines

18 years ago

Ijmuiden based B Iskes & Son Towage and Salvage has taken delivery of ‘ Triton’ , the latest newbuilding in their growing tug fleet. The new tug, built by the Dearsan Shipyard in Turkey to the popular Robert Allan Rampart 3200 design, is a vessel of 32m in length and 12.4m beam, powered by two ABC 8-DZC main engines producing a total of 5,400 bhp.

Twin Schottel SRP 1515CP azimuthing propulsion units are fitted along with a 200 bhp bow thruster. Triton’s bollard pull ahead is 65 tons, towing astern is 58 tons and free running speed 13 knots. Fire fighting equipment is installed to FiFi 1 standards and the tug is fitted out for shiphandling, coastal and offshore operations.

The shipyard of well known American tug builders Washburn & Doughty was totally destroyed by a massive fire on 11 July. Located in East Boothbay, Maine, the fire was so intense 200 local residents were evacuated and fire fighters attended from all the surrounding towns. Damage is reported to be in the order of $30m and it is understood that five or six tugs were in various stages of construction and that 100 people were employed at the yard. The family run company had a healthy order book and the owners have stated their intention to reconstruct the facilities and continue production.

Svitzer has sold the Voith tractor tug ‘Hallgarth’ to the UK port of Falmouth. The 28.4m tug was one of a pair built in 1979 by Scott & Son at Bowling and was powered by two Ruston main engines giving it a bollard pull of 23 tons. Hallgarth spent most of its working life in the ports of the Bristol Channel along with sister ship ‘Holmgarth’. Now a member of the fleet serving Falmouth docks, the vessel has been renamed ‘St Piran’.

It is with great sadness that we report the unexpected death of Tony McGinnity, broker, valuer and surveyor, well known to many in the towage business and readers of Maritime Journal. Born in 1937, Tony first went to sea as a cadet with the British India Shipping company and subsequently had a varied and colourful career based mainly in the UK. He made a name for himself in surveying and brokerage and his companies Havelet Marine Services and Yarmouth Shipping specialised in towage related business. Among his many accolades Tony was a Freeman of the City of London, Vice President of the Federation of Merchant Mariners and an active supporter of many maritime charities. He passed away in Southampton hospital on 10 June and leaves partner Georgiana, four children, two stepchildren and four grandchildren.