HOLLAND

Today's Ship of the Day is the tug Holland (IMO: 5153462, Port of Registry: West-Terschelling). The Holland was built in 1951 as a salvage tug by Ferus Smit Shipbuilding B.V., the Netherlands. This swift recovery vessel safely brought to shore 161 ships during the period 1951-1975. In the summer months, shipping company Doeksen put the Holland to work as an extra ferry for the service between Harlingen and Terschelling. This meant fitting her out with fine saloon accommodation. From 1975 to 1999 the Holland was hired out to the North Sea directorate of the Dutch Ministry of Waterways and Public Works (Rijkswaterstaat directie Noordzee). At the end of this tour of duty there appeared on the horizon a doom scenario: decommissioning and the scrap-yard. However, thanks to the alertness of several enthusiasts this fate was avoided in the nick of time and the unique ship saved and taken under the wings of the Salvage Tug-boat Holland Foundation. Since August 2004, sea salvage tugboat Holland has been registered as a Voyaging Monument with the National Register of Voyaging Monuments set up by the Foundation Federation of Old Dutch Shipping Vessels. The Holland is 57.35 meters long, 9.54 meters wide and is propelled by a 10 cylinder 1499 kW Werkspoor type TMABS 3910 engine. More information on the vessel can be found at: www.zeesleepbootholland.nl (mainly Dutch).

The Holland is expected to arrive later tonight at the Holland Amerikakade, Rotterdam.

Click here for the current position of the Holland