Orkney Islands Council News

Earlier this month Sanmar Shipyards delivered a pair of Robert Allan Ltd. designed terminal support/escort tugs to Orkney Islands Council Marine Services, in Scotland. The unique and historical names Odin of Scapa and Thor of Scapa were chosen by a widely supported, local voting exercise launched by the Council in November of 2019. The two 32-meter newbuilds are replacing two of the three tugs currently operated by the owners.The RAstar 3200-SX tugs are purposely designed with…

Turkish tug boat builder Sanmar Shipyards said that it has launched Odin of Scapa, first of the Orkney Islands Council (OIC) two new tugs, at its shipyard at Altinova in Turkey."The launch was on schedule and the program is currently within budget," informed the shipbuilder.Following a period of final fitting out, equipment commissioning and then sea trials the purpose-built tug will commence a three week passage from Turkey and is due to arrive at its new home in Scapa Flow in Orkney at the end of the second week in May.The second tug – Thor of Scapa – is ahead of schedule and is due to arrive in Orkney some 2 months after its sister ship.OIC’s Head of Marine Services…

Canada's oldest privately owned consulting Naval Architectural firm Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) announced that Sanmar Shipyards in Turkey started the construction of a new series of RAstar 3200-SX tugs in March of 2019.The tugs which are named by Sanmar after a large river in Turkey as the Kocaçay series, are exclusively designed by Robert Allan Ltd. for construction by Sanmar and are key additions to the line up of Sanmar built tugs.This wide range of tug starts at the highly capable 15 m RAscal 1500 line-handling tugs up to 34 m long RAstar 3400 escort tugs all finished to impeccable quality standards. The first two vessels are currently…

ExxonMobil, Babcock International Group, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), Calor and Orkney Islands Council have signed an agreement to collaborate in the “Caledonia LNG ” project. The aim is to develop the infrastructure, storage and technical support needed to enable safe liquefied natural gas (LNG) operations for customers in the north of the UK and North Sea, including bunkering. The parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 22 November to investigate opportunities to supply LNG for marine and land-based applications. ExxonMobil will explore the potential for its global marine network to deliver LNG bunker fuel to customers in the region as well as providing technical support and expertise to enable safe LNG bunkering operations.

Aiming to develop the infrastructure, storage and technical support needed to enable safe liquefied natural gas (LNG) operations for customers in the north of the U.K. and North Sea, including bunkering, partners ExxonMobil, Babcock International Group, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), Calor and Orkney Islands Council have signed an agreement to collaborate in the Caledonia LNG project. The parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on November 22 to investigate opportunities to supply LNG for marine and land-based applications.

U.K. Royal Navy bomb disposal experts have found a German torpedo from World War II at Scapa Flow in the Orkneys. The torpedo was found on the seabed March 1 after a recent routine sonar survey on behalf of Orkney Islands Council. It was also filmed using an underwater remote-operated vehicle (ROV). Footage showed a seven-meter-long suspected torpedo and Northern Diving Group (NDG) were soon alerted to the incident. “There is currently no threat to shipping or the public and so we have marked the location so that we can return in the near future and safely dispose of it,” Hampshire said.

Shipping vessels have been advised not to anchor where an object thought to be a torpedo was discovered on the seabed of Scapa Flow, Scotland. On Saturday, February 27, Orkney Vessel Traffic Services informed the U.K. Coastguard that a 7-meter torpedo-like object had been found during a routine seabed sonar survey carried out by SULA Diving on behalf of Orkney Islands Council Marine Services. Video footage was then captured using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), which has now been forwarded to the relevant authorities. U.K. Coastguard has informed the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team and the Senior Coastal Operations Officer based in Orkney.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker Arctic Princess is expected to transfer a cargo to the Excelerate off Scotland's coast this week, a spokesman at Orkney Islands Council said. The transfer between the two vessels while at anchor in the stretch of water known as the Scapa Flow had been planned for last weekend, but was delayed due to unfavourable weather conditions, the spokesman said. This is the fourth ship-to-ship transfer in the Scapa Flow following previous transfers in 2007, 2010 and 2013. Reporting by Sarah McFarlane

Orkney is set for a multimillion pound tourism bonanza with a record-breaking year of cruise liners due to visit. The number of cruise ships visiting Orkney will top the 80 mark for the first time this year, says a Orkney Islands Council press release. So far, 83 port calls by liners are expected in the islands – four more than in 2014. In total, the ships have the capacity to carry more than 80,000 passengers and 25,000 crew. More bookings are still expected for 2015. Michael Morrison, business development manager for Council's marine services, said that they all set for a record-breaking year for cruise ship visits. Orkney is seeing more visits by bigger vessels, resulting in greater overall passenger numbers for Orkney.

Birkenhead shipyard and engineering services company Cammell Laird said it has developed an advanced shipyard environmental package for ferries, following its strongest year of trading in the sector. Cammell Laird said it has docked 24 ferries between 2013 and the beginning of 2014 and, in addition, has carried out a further 24 afloat repairs for ferry operators. During 2013 Cammell Laird repaired, built and converted almost 250,000 gross tons of ferry and Ro-Ro ships for a wide range of owners. Already in 2014 it has docked and repaired ferries of 150,000 gross tons.

Businesses will have the chance to learn more about the marine energy opportunities for the Orkney and Pentland Firth waters at an event in Caithness on Tuesday 5 April. Organised jointly by North Scotland Industries Group (NSIG), Caithness Chamber of Commerce, Orkney Islands Council, The Crown Estate and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), the event is open to members and non-members and will be held at North Highland College, Thurso from 10am to 4.30pm. John Thurso MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross will be the keynote speaker.