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 scrapyard. 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

SUBHADRA

The Subhadra (IMO: 9396593, Port of Registry: Mumbai, India) is a Supply Vessel/Tug of 78 meters long, 17.2 meters wide and a maximum draught of almost 7 meters. The vessel was built in 2008 at Kleven Vaerft, Norway. The Subhadra is propelled by a Rolls Royce diesel engine and is equipped with one bow thruster and two stern thrusters of 882 KW each which gives the vessel a bollard pull of 188 tons. She is operated by Varun Shipping Company, India. The Subhadra arrived this morning at CCT Moerdijk. Click here for the current position of the Subhadra

Source: Shipspotting.com Copyright: Richard Patton

FAIRMOUNT SUMMIT & FAIRMOUNT SHERPA

Today's SotD are the anchor-handling tug Fairmount Summit (IMO: 9315563, Port of Registry: Panama) and Fairmount Sherpa. These 75 metres long, 18 metres wide tugs have an engine capacity of 16,320 BHP which is delivered by a Wartsila W6L32 engine. This capacity give the vessels a 205 ton bollard pull. The vessels are equipped with a 825 KW bow thruster and a 736 KW stern thruster. The vessels were built in 2005 at Niigata, Japan and are owned by the Dutch company Fairmount Marine. The vessels' sister vessel is the Fairmount Alpine.

The Fairmount Summit and Sherpa will arrive this morning in Rotterdam from after delivering the FPSO Skarv Idun in the port of Stord, Norway. The two tugs needed just 92 days for the long distance tow of about 15,300 nautical miles from Samsung Heavy Industries’ shipyard in Okpo, South Korea. More info: Fairmount Marine.

Click here for the current position of the Fairmount Summit or here for the current position of the Fairmount Sherpa

SUBHADRA

The Subhadra (IMO: 9396593, Port of Registry: Mumbai, India) is a Supply Vessel/Tug of 78 meters long, 17.2 meters wide and a maximum draught of almost 7 meters. The vessel was built in 2008 at Kleven Vaerft, Norway. The Subhadra is propelled by a Rolls Royce diesel engine and is equipped with one bow thruster and two stern thrusters of 882 KW each which gives the vessel a bollard pull of 188 tons. She is operated by Varun Shipping Company, India. The Subhadra arrived this morning at the Calandkanaal, Rotterdam. She will leave within a few days, with the Heerema's crane ship Thialf on tow. Click here for the current position of the Subhadra

Source: Shipspotting.com Copyright: Richard Patton

EISVOGEL

The Eisvogel (IMO: 8736198, Port of Registry: Trieste) is a an in 1961 built icebreaker of 35 meters long, almost 10 meters wide. She was built for the German navy by Hitzler Werft, Germany and is propelled by two Maybach MD 655 engines delivering a total output of 1765 kW at 1400 rpm which gives the vessel a 20 tons bollard pull and a maximum speed of 14 knots. Nowadays the vessel is operated as a standard tug by Lucatelli Towing & Salvage, Trieste, Italy. The Eisvogel is expected to arrive later tonight at the Verolme yard at IJsselmonde, Rotterdam.

Photo by: Eckhard Uhrbrock Source: Shipspotting.com

Click here for the current position of the Eisvogel

PACIFIC BLADE

The Pacific Blade (IMO: 9169366, Port of Registry: Singapore) is an Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessel with an overall length of 66 metres. The vessel is operated by Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO), which operates across the globe from the Far East and Australasia through India and the Middle East to West Africa, the Mediterranean and the North Sea. Built in Ulstein Verft AS, Norway, this class has successfully served in the North Sea spot market, performed round-the-clock anchor handling duties for pipelay barges throughout the Mediterranean and the Arabian Gulf, carried out salvage work on the African coast, and semi-submersible deepwater anchor handling in Southeast Asia. Pacific Brigand also has experience in deepwater anchor handling, having set and recovered anchors in 2,170 metres of water. The Pacific Blade is propelled by 2 Wartsila Vasa 12V32D engines delivering 6,120 BHP each. This ensures a bollard pull of 157 metric tonnes continuous.

The Pacific Blade will enter the Port of Rotterdam this evening from Aberdeen towing the drilling platform GSF Monarch to Keppel Verolme Shipyard.

Click here for the current position of the Pacific Blade.

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

TAURUS

Today we have the anchor-handling tug Taurus (IMO: 9344978, Port of Registry: St. John's, Antigua & Barbuda) featuring as the Ship of the Day. The Taurus is 58 metres long, about 15 metres wide and has a gross tonnage of 1767. The vessel's two MAN B&W 14V32/40 engines deliver a maximum output of 14,000 kW at 750 rpm, which ensures a bollard pull of 207 tons and a maximum speed of 16 knots. Furthermore the vessel is equipped with two 400 KW bowthrusters and one 400 KW sternthruster. She provides accomodation to 21 persons in 16 cabins. The Taurus was built in 2007 at Mützelfeldt Yard, Cuxhaven and is owned by Harms Offshore, Hamburg, Germany.

The Taurus arrived this morning at the Parkkade, Rotterdam.

SEAFOX 2

The Seafox 2 (IMO: 8222903, Port of registry: Douglas, Isle of Man) is a four-legged self-elevating accommodation, maintenance and (well) workover unit, built in 1985 to Lloyd's Register of Shipping classification requirements. The unit was specifically designed and built to withstand harsh environmental conditions offshore, and is capable of operating in water depths of up to 50 metres all year round, depending on local seabed conditions. The Seafox 2 is able to operate in wave heights up to 18 meters and wind speeds upto 37 m/s. The accommodation is of a high standard and the various leisure facilities include a cinema, recreational and sport rooms. The messroom and galley can cater for up to 85 people at one sitting. Other onboard amenities include locker rooms, laundry, offices and a fully-equipped sickbay with treatment room. The unit is 50 meters long and 45 meters wide, with a deck capacity of 800 m2.

The Seafox 2 arrived this morning at Keppel Verolme Shipyard under tow by the tugs Taurus and Fairplay-31.

Click here for the current position of the Seafox 2

MORITZ

Today we have the tug Moritz (IMO: 9096454, Port of Registry: Brunsbüttel, Germany) as the Ship of the Day. This tug was built in 1971 by Schichau Seebeckwerft, Bremerhaven, Germany as the Neuende. The Neuende was the first of a series of three tugs of the "Klasse 724", especially built for the German navy. Her two sisters "Heppens" and "Ellerbeck" where sold to the greek navy in the 1990's. The vessel is 26 metres long, 7 metres wide, has a gross tonnage of 133. Her 588 kW engine gives the vessel a maximum speed of 11 knots and a bollard pull of 14 tons. The tug is currently owned by Hans Schramm & Sohn GmbH & Co. KG, Germany. The Moritz is scheduled to enter the Port of Rotterdam this afternoon.

Photo by: Frank Schlünsen Source: Shipspotting.com

SALVAGE GIANT

The Salvage Giant (IMO: 7506417, Port of Registry: Kingstown, St. Vincent & the Grenadines) is 67 meters long, 12.5 meters wide tug , built in 1975 at Matsuura Shipbuilding co., Japan as the "Sumi Maru 7001". The vessel has a service speed of 12 kts and a cruising range of 20,000 miles. Her Nigata diesel engine delivers 7,200 BHP ensuring a bollard pull of 104 tons. She is managed by Asian Marine, Taiwan.

The Salvage Giant arrived in the port of Rotterdam this morning towing a pontoon full of newbuilt casco's of barges. The Salvage Giant will take berth at the Parkkade. The pontoon will be unloaded at the Waalhaven.

SALVAGE CHAMPION

The 500th post on the Ship of the Day weblog is the tug and salvage vessel Salvage Champion (IMO: 7530444, Port of Registry: Kingstown, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines). The Salvage Champion was built in 1976 as the Nippon Maru by Miyoshi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., Japan. The tug is currently owned by Asian Marine co., ltd, Taiwan. She is 72.4 meters long, 13 meters wide and she is powered by 2 Hanshin 6 LU54 engines delivering a total output of 10,000 BHP, which ensures a bollard pull of 132 tons. The vessel can achieve a speed of 13.5 knots and has a cruising range of about 65 days.

The Salvage Champion is expected to arrive later afternoon at the Waalhaven, Rotterdam towing the pontoon Sainty No. 8, loaded with hulls for barges. After delivering this load, she will berth at the Parkkade, Rotterdam.

PACIFIC BLADE

The Pacific Blade (IMO: 9169366, Port of Registry: Singapore) is a Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessel with an overall length of 66 metres. The vessel is operated by Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO), which operates across the globe from the Far East and Australasia through India and the Middle East to West Africa, the Mediterranean and the North Sea. Built in Ulstein Verft AS, Norway, this class has successfully served in the North Sea spot market, performed round-the-clock anchor handling duties for pipelay barges throughout the Mediterranean and the Arabian Gulf, carried out salvage work on the African coast, and semi-submersible deepwater anchor handling in Southeast Asia. Pacific Brigand also has experience in deepwater anchor handling, having set and recovered anchors in 2,170 metres of water. The Pacific Blade is propelled by 2 Wartsila Vasa 12V32D engines delivering 6,120 BHP each. This ensure a bollard pull of 157 metric tonnes continuous.

The Pacific Blade entered the Port of Rotterdam this morning from Aberdeen and is currently located at the Lloydkade, Rotterdam.

If you are interested in the salvaging industry, I recommend National Geographic's Salvage Code Red where salvors race against time to rescue stricken ships, their cargo and crew, and prevent environmental disaster.

URAN

Today we have the tug Uran (IMO: 8727408, Port of Registry: St. Petersburg, Russia) featuring as the Ship of the Day. The Uran was built in 1987 in former Yugoslavia and is currently owned by the port of St. Petersburg. She is 36 metres long, 10 metres wide and has a maximum speed of 13.5 knots delivered by her two 927 kW Sulzer engines.

The Uran arrived last night at Techno Marine Service, Rotterdam towing a newbuilt inland cargo vessel.

OBAN B

Today we have the semi-submersible drilling rig Oban B (Port of Registry: Nassau, Bahama's) entering the port of Rotterdam. The Oban B was built at Sevmash Shipyard this year and will be outfitted at Keppel Verolme Shipyard, Rotterdam. The rig is capable of operating in water depths of up to 3,048 meters and can obtain a drilling depth up to 9,144 meters. She is 118,6 metres long, 72,7 meters wide and provides accomodation to a total of 192 persons. The Oban B is equipped with a National Oilwell 209' x 45' x 45' derrick with a capacity of 2,000,000 lbs and four 2,200 HP mud pumps. Just recently, her owner Seadragon Offshore, Cayman Islands, secured the first charter with a long-term contract with Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX).

The Oban B will arrive this afternoon at Keppel Verolme Shipyard, Rotterdam accompanied by the tug Magnus, owned by Harms Offshore, Germany.

ALEXANDRA

Today we have a 'golden oldie' as the SOTD. It is the, in 1963 built, tug Alexandra (IMO: 5418630, flag: United Kingdom). The Alexandra is with its gross tonnage of 164 only small amongst all the large ships on this page, but since it's 43 years old, it is worth mentioning that she will arrive this morning in Dordrecht. The tug is still in service, owned by Niarcos Shipping, Rochester, UK and managed by G.P.S. Marine Contractors. She is 28 meters long, 7.6 meters wide and has a maximum BHP of 1066. The following towing gear is available:

• Auto winch hydraulic single drum towing winch
• 500M x 32MM wire with spelter sockets
• 2 x 220M x 64MM Nutech polyprop ropes
• 2 x 20M 20 ton tested wire bridles
• 2 x 10M 20 ton tested wire bridles

The Alexandra sails in the extended European area IE North Cape, Full Baltic/Gulf of Bothnia in season, full Mediterranean and the Black Sea. She has entered the Port of Rotterdam this morning towing the pontoon E-3504 to the 8th Petroleumhaven, Rotterdam originating from Chatham.

HERMOD

The Hermod (IMO: 7710214, Port of Registry: Panama) is a 154 metres long, 86 metres wide, 42 metres high crane vessel capable of a tandem lift of 8,100 tons up to 39 metres in tandem. The vessel was built in 1978 and is owned by Heerema Marine Netherlands. The main hoist lifting height is 92 m above work deck. She has a gross tonnage of 73877, provides accomodation for 336 persons, has a helicopter deck which is suitable for a Sikorsky 61-N and is propelled by two electrically driven, controllable pitch propellers of 4,400 kW each aft and two electrically driven, retractable, controllable pitch thruster of 1,470 kW each forward. Power supply by seven diesel driven main generators of 2,765 kW each. The vessel has static and dynamic ballast systems both fully computer controlled. Ballast pump capacity 8,000 cubic meter/hour. Dynamic ballast water handling 500 t/sec.

The Hermod will arrive this evening at the Calandkanaal, Rotterdam accompanied by the tug Retriever.

ALEXANDRA

Today we have a 'golden oldie' as the SOTD. It is the, in 1963 built, tug Alexandra (IMO: 5418630, flag: United Kingdom). The Alexandra is with its gross tonnage of 164 only small amongst all the large ships on this page, but since it's 43 years old, it is worth mentioning that she will arrive this morning in Dordrecht. The tug is still in service, owned by Niarcos Shipping, Rochester, UK and managed by G.P.S. Marine Contractors. She is 28 meters long, 7.6 meters wide and has a maximum BHP of 1066. The following towing gear is available:

• Auto winch hydraulic single drum towing winch
• 500M x 32MM wire with spelter sockets
• 2 x 220M x 64MM Nutech polyprop ropes
• 2 x 20M 20 ton tested wire bridles
• 2 x 10M 20 ton tested wire bridles

The Alexandra sails in the extended European area IE North Cape, Full Baltic/Gulf of Bothnia in season, full Mediterranean and the Black Sea. She has entered the Port of Rotterdam this morning with destination Dordrecht and the last port of call at Chatham.

TAURUS

Today we have the anchor-handling tug Taurus (IMO: 9344978, Port of Registry: St. John's, Antigua & Barbuda) featuring as the Ship of the Day. The Taurus is 58 metres long, about 15 metres wide and has a gross tonnage of 1767. The vessel's two MAN B&W 14V32/40 engines deliver a maximum output of 14,000 kW at 750 rpm, which ensures a bollard pull of 200 tons and a maximum speed of 16 knots. The Taurus was built in 2007 at Mützelfeldt Yard, Cuxhaven and is owned by Harms Offshore, Hamburg, Germany.

The Taurus arrived this morning at the Parkkade, Rotterdam.

MORITZ

Today we have the tug Moritz (IMO: 9096454, Port of Registry: Brunsbüttel, Germany) as the Ship of the Day. This tug was built in 1971 by Schichau Seebeckwerft, Bremerhaven, Germany as the Neuende. The Neuende was the first of a series of three tugs of the "Klasse 724", especially built for the German navy. Her two sisters "Heppens" and "Ellerbeck" where sold to the greek navy in the 1990's. The vessel is 26 metres long, 7 metres wide, has a gross tonnage of 133. Her 588 kW engine gives the vessel a maximum speed of 11 knots and a bollard pull of 14 tons. The tug is currently owned by Hans Schramm & Sohn GmbH & Co. KG, Germany. The Moritz entered the Port of Rotterdam this morning and is currently berthed at Dordrecht.

Photo by: Frank Schlünsen Source: Shipspotting.com