Marine Link
Monday, March 18, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Workboats News

20 Feb 2024

Sanmar Delivers Another Tug for Boluda Towage

(Photo: Sanmar)

Sanmar reports it has delivered another tugboat to Boluda Towage, marking the third delivery from the Turkish shipbuilder and operator to Spain-headquartered maritime service provider in three months’ time.The delivery of BoÄźaçay LXVII, to be renamed VB Tragen by its new owner, follows the sale and delivery of two former Sanmar fleet tugs - VB Horus and VB Amon – to Boluda Towage in November last year.VB Tragen has been delivered to support Boluda Towage’s services for liquefied natural gas (LNG) operations in Germany.

10 Jan 2024

Salvors to Remove Fuel from Sunken Tug in California

Crews work to place and maintain sorbent boom around the Tug Mazapeta on September 7, 2023. Image credit: California Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention & Response.

Salvors are set to begin removing fuel from a 1940s era military tugboat that sunk in California last year, the U.S. Coast Guard said.The Mazapeta sunk September 4, 2023, in Little Potato Slough within the San Joaquin Delta, northwest of Stockton, Calif. with approximately 1,600 gallons of diesel and engine oil were reported onboard at the time of the incident.To date approximately 593 gallons of petroleum product have been recovered from inside the containment boom area, which surrounds the sunken tug.

04 Jan 2024

McAllister Takes Delivery of New Tractor Tug from Washburn & Doughty

Grace McAllister (Photo: McAllister Towing)

New York based McAllister Towing announced it has taken delivery of its new shipdocking tractor tug Grace McAllister from East Boothbay, Maine shipyard Washburn & Doughty.Equipped with 3516E Tier IV Caterpillar engines powering twin Schottel SRP 490 Z-drive units, the 93- by 38-foot vessel produces 6,770 horsepower and achieved over 85 metric tons during bollard pull certification. Markey winches are installed on the tug's bow and stern.Grace McAllister has received Low Emission Vessel class notation from ABS.

11 Dec 2023

Jifmar Acquire Acta Marine Workboat Business

Image courtesy Jifmar

Jifmar Offshore Services and Acta Marine have concluded an agreement where Jifmar will acquire all workboat activities of Acta Marine, a deal with includes all 26 workboats, the crews (200 employees), the Netherlands based organisation and all existing contracts. Acta Marine's Offshore Wind Construction Support and Walk-to-Work activities are excluded from the transaction.Acta Marine's Workboat activities will continue to operate from its Den Helder office in the Netherlands as a branch office under the Jifmar brand. This branch specializes in shallow water and near coastal marine projects.

30 Nov 2023

Bay-Houston Towing Orders New Tugs from Sterling Shipyard

(Image: Bay Houston Towing)

Bay-Houston Towing has inked a deal with Port Neches, Texas shipbuilder Sterling Shipyard to build multiple new tugs to serve the Texas Gulf Coast region.The new vessels will be Robert Allan Ltd. designed RAstar 3200-W ASD ship handling and escort tugs for berthing/unberthing large ships and providing escort and emergency response in exposed coastal areas with demanding sea states.“The addition of the RAstar 3200-W further diversifies our fleet and provides an extremely powerful…

23 Nov 2023

Maritime Craft Services Expands Workboat Fleet with Damen's Multi Cat 2712

Credit: Damen Shipyards

Damen Shipyards has delivered one of its Multi Cats to workboat specialist Maritime Craft Services (Clyde) Ltd. The 27-meter Multi Cat 2712 is a mid-range model in the 13-strong class and Damen builds them in series to meet the consistent demand for vessels of this size and capability, the Dutch shipbuilder said.Based on the Firth of Clyde on the west coast of Scotland, Maritime Craft Services (MCS) operates a fleet of 17 workboats, of which 13 have been built by Damen. The company provides services to offshore energy contractors and dredging clients for activities including anchor handling…

03 Nov 2023

New High-speed Landing Craft Delivered in Australia

(Photo: Incat Crowther)

A new high-speed low-draft landing craft Island Guardian has been delivered to the Great Barrier Reef Joint Field Management Program in Australia.The new 21-meter vessel has been custom-designed by Incat Crowther and built by Norman Wright & Sons to enhance island protected area management, research, incident response and facilitate more efficient management of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.The Great Barrier Reef Joint Field Management Program is delivered jointly by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service…

24 Oct 2023

Louis Meyer Orders Damen’s Compact ASD Tug 2111

Rendering of Damen's ASD Tug 2111 class tug (Image: Damen Shipyards)

Neue Schleppdampfschiffsreederei Louis Meyer GmbH & Co. KG of Hamburg has placed an order with Damen Shipyards for the one of the first of its next generation ASD Tug 2111 class. The vessel will be operated on a long-term charter by Emder Schlepp-Betrieb GmbH (ESB) for operations in its home port of Emden, one of the top three ports in Europe for car shipping. There, its shallow draft and compact size together with its over 50 tonnes of bollard pull, make it ideal for manoeuvring…

19 Oct 2023

New York State Canal Corporation Donates Retired Workboat

(Photo courtesy City of Amsterdam)

New York State Canal Corporation has donated one of its retired workboats to be displayed as part of a new educational exhibit set to open in Amsterdam, N.Y. in spring 2024.The vessel, Tender 4, was built in 1926 by American Boiler Works in Erie, Pa., and went on to serve nearly a century for the Canal Corporation, a New York State public-benefit corporation responsible for the oversight, administration and maintenance of the state's canal system.One of nine tenders built for the Canal Corporation in the 1920s…

17 Oct 2023

All-electric Waterways Clean-up Vessel Launched in the UK

(Photo: MMS Workboats)

MMS Workboats, a division of U.K.-based MMS Ship Repair & Dry Dock Co Ltd. (MMS), has launched a cutting-edge plastic and debris collection vessel: the Envirocat All-Electric Eco 8.5.Designed to make waterways cleaner and support sustainable industries such as fish farming and aquaculture, the 8.5 meter vessel can be operated by a single user, enabling efficient, cost effective and environmentally friendly clearance of plastic and flotsam from the water’s surface.The vessel, developed in conjunction with naval architecture firm Rockabill Marine Design…

12 Oct 2023

Damen Wins Class and Flag States Approval for Methanol-fueled Workboats

(Photo: Damen)

Dutch shipbuilding conglomerate Damen announced it has secured approval from classification society Bureau Veritas as well as the Dutch and Belgian flag authorities for its designs of methanol-powered workboats.The shipbuilder said it can now offer designs for a wide range of methanol-powered compact vessels, ranging from tugs, stationary dredgers and high-speed vessels to fast crew suppliers, pilot boats, stan patrols and fast ferries, as and when the engines for these types…

26 Oct 2023

New 'Multi Cat' Workboats Delivered to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock

(Photo: Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation)

Houston-based dredging contractor Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation announced it has taken delivery of the Cape Hatteras and the Cape Canaveral, the two Damen 3013 Multi Cats built by Conrad Shipyard in Morgan City, La.“This is a milestone for our company and the U.S. dredging industry,” said Chris Gunsten, Great Lakes’ senior vice president of project services and fleet engineering. “The Multi Cat brings step change safety improvements to Great Lakes’ dredge pipeline operations, which was a prime driver for the investment.

26 Sep 2023

Svitzer Expands Its Tug Fleet in Brazil

(Photo: Svitzer)

A.P. Moller - Maersk's towage arm Svitzer announced the continued expansion of its fleet in Brazil, as part of the ongoing growth of its operations in the country.Svitzer Monte KT is the fourth tug to join the fleet in the country since April. The vessel is a sister to three tugs already delivered to Svitzer in 2023, which have been deployed across the ports of Pécem, Paranagua, and Santos on Brazil’s coast. The tug is one of six new Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) tugs that will be put into operation by Svitzer in Brazil before the end of 2024.

21 Sep 2023

Excessive Speed Led to Tugboat Grounding -NTSB

Excessive speed during a bow-to-bow harbor-assist maneuver led to the grounding of the tugboat CC Portland in the Corpus Christi Ship Channel last year, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Thursday.It is the second marine casualty the NTSB investigated in 2022 caused by excessive speed in azimuthing stern drive, or ASD, tugboats while in the center lead forward position. The NTSB said it continues to encourage owners and operators of ASD tugboats that perform bow-to-bow harbor-assist operations to set speed limits.“The risk of a casualty during these operations with ASD tugboats increases with increasing speed,” NTSB investigators said in the final report. “Higher speed reduces the amount of reserve propulsion power available to the operator.

21 Sep 2023

BSG Acquires Maritime Software Company

"We are thrilled to announce the successful acquisition of Ripple," said Chad Mitchell, CEO of Bleecker Street Group. "The addition of Ripple's exceptional team, advanced software products and blue-chip customer base will significantly strengthen our position in the global maritime sector and position us for further growth and success."

Bleecker Street Group (BSG), a global software holding company, announced the acquisition of Ripple, an integrated maritime software company. The acquisition underscores BSG's commitment to the maritime sector, solidifying its position as an emerging force in the broader Supply Chain Software industry.Ripple has earned acclaim for its mission-critical solutions designed to address unique operating challenges faced by maritime, and it has a long client list in the sector delivering to tugboat…

18 Sep 2023

OpEd: EPA Must Stop Unsafe and Costly California Maritime Mandate

© sheilaf2002 / Adobe Stock

California’s maritime sector is essential to America’s role in the global economy and to the supply chain. Yet, a mandate from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has cast a shadow over the safety and efficiency of this sector, which will have far-reaching effects on the nation.While CARB’s intentions to bolster air quality are commendable, and California’s maritime industry has a proven track record of working to lower emissions, the hasty directive for tugboat operators…

13 Sep 2023

Sanmar Delivers Tug to Denmark's Port of Hirtshals

(Photo: Sanmar Shipyards)

Sanmar Shipyards has delivered a new harbor tug to the Port of Hirtshals in Denmark where it will primarily assist increasingly large ferries to and from the quay in the port’s often notoriously windy conditions.Formerly part of Sanmar’s own fleet operating at Izmit Bay in Türkiye, the 2019-built tug Yeniçay X has been renamed Sibba by its new owners. It replaces the port’s previous tug which was built in 1979 and has served at Hirtshals since 2005.Based on the RAscal 1800 design from Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd developed to address the challenges of modern…

08 Sep 2023

Failure to Maintain Crane Barge Led to $6 Million Loss

The towing vessel Karen Koby (left) and crane barge Ambition (right) are pictured before the capsizing and sinking. (Credit: LA Carriers (left) and Rigid Constructors (right))

A barge owner’s lack of inspection and maintenance led to the capsizing and sinking of a crane barge last year in the Gulf of Mexico, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said.The crane barge Ambition was being towed when it capsized and sank on June 15, 2022, releasing an estimated 1,980 gallons of oil. No injuries were reported. The Ambition, owned by Rigid Constructors, and its crane were a total loss estimated at $6.3 million.Due to the height of the crane, the Ambition was being towed offshore in the Gulf of Mexico to reach its destination.

06 Sep 2023

New Tug Delivered to the Thai Navy

(Photo: Robert Allan Ltd.)

The Royal Thai Navy has taken delivery of the new tug H.T.M.S. Ta Chai built by Asian Marine Services PCL. The vessel, having already undergone sea trials, was officially handed over on August 21.The newly completed RAmparts 3200-SD tug was designed by Canada's Robert Allan Ltd. to serve the navy’s surface ships and submarines.The design features a slightly wider hull form with improved features compared to two RAmparts 3200 tugs delivered to the Royal Thai Navy in 2017 and 2019…

07 Sep 2023

Gulf LNG Orders Four New Tugs

File photo: A Robert Allan Ltd. designed Z-Tech 30-80 tug delivered to Bay-Houston Towing Co. in 2021. (Photo: Robert Allan Ltd.)

Gulf LNG Tugs of Brownsville has ordered four new tugs to serve the Rio Grande LNG export facility (RGLNG), which has commenced construction in Brownsville, Texas.Gulf LNG Tugs is a joint venture formed between Bay-Houston Towing Co., Moran Towing Corporation and Suderman & Young Towing Company to provide tug services for RGLNG under a long-term tug services agreement.The company announced Tuesday it signed construction contracts with Coden, Ala. shipyard Master Boat Builders and Port Neches, Texas shipbuilder Sterling Shipyard.

29 Aug 2023

New Tug Enters Service for McAllister Towing

Jane McAllister on one of its first jobs, assisting the ZIM Mount Everest in Hampton Roads, Va. (Photo: McAllister Towing)

McAllister Towing announced its new tug Jane McAllister has entered service as one of the most advanced and powerful shipdocking tractor tugs operating in the Port of Virginia.Recently delivered from East Boothbay, Maine shipbuilder Washburn & Doughty, the 6,770 horsepower vessel is equipped with 3516E Tier IV Caterpillar engines powering twin Schottel SRP 490 Z-drive units. The 93- by 38-foot tug features Markey winches on the bow and stern and achieved over 91 short tons during…

24 Aug 2023

Steel Cut for Rizhao Port's Two New Tugs

(Photo: Robert Allan Ltd.)

A steel cutting ceremony was held earlier this month for a pair of new tugs being built for Rizhao Port, Shandong Province, China.The two Robert Allan Ltd. designed RAmparts 3700 ASD tugs are being built at the facilities of Rizhao Gangda Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co. Ltd.On completion, the new 39.7-meter-long tugs will perform ship-handling and coastal towing for the port, which has seen cargo handling capacity rapidly increase alongside the size of vessels calling the port.

23 Aug 2023

Damen Delivered New Workboat for SAFEEN Group

(Photo: Damen)

Damen Shipyards Group has delivered a new Shoalbuster 3209 to SAFEEN Group, a subsidiary of AD Ports Group. The vessel was named Al Mirfa, after a coastal community located in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, in a ceremony that took place at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem in the Netherlands.The vessel, which will primary be used for buoy maintenance, features a shallow draft, extensive unobstructed deck, a heavy-duty deck crane, waterfall winch and towing pins, stern roller and a FiFi1 fire-fighting system. Additional buoy clamps and chain stoppers have been added.

Subscribe for
Maritime Reporter E-News

Maritime Reporter E-News is the maritime industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service, delivered to your Email five times per week