Members’ News Multraship
the Novatug CRT.
Tsavliris
Multraship, through its fully-owned subsidiary Novatug BV, has commissioned the construction of two Carrousel Rave Tugs (CRTs) from Damen Shipyards Group. The new vessels have more power and remove the risk of capsizing under a tow load.
"This new tug design eliminates what has always been the most significant threat to safety in towing – the risk of capsizing under a tow load. The benefits in terms of efficiency and flexibility, meanwhile, are also enormous".
Tsavliris Salvage has expanded its fleet with its latest acquisition, HERMES (see below), built in 1993 as the MONTGAT. The tug has 2,725 BHP, BP 41 tonnes and is FIFI Class. The multi-purpose, deep-sea tug adds to the group's capabilities and will operate out of Patras salvage station.
Construction of the CRTs will begin immediately under an agreement between Novatug, with Multraship as its first customer, and Damen subsidiary Van der Velden Barkemeyer GmbH. The hulls of the vessels will be built by German shipyard Theodor Buschmann GmbH in Hamburg, with final outfitting carried out by Damen Maaskant Shipyards in Stellendam, the Netherlands. Delivery of the Bureau Veritas-classed vessels is scheduled for early 2017.
Above left to right: Mijndert Wiesenekker, Sales Director Benelux Damen; Pepijn Nuijten, Multraship; Kees Muller, Multraship; Arnout Damen, CCO Damen; Leendert Muller, Multraship.
The RAVE design was developed by Robert Allan Ltd, in conjunction with Voith GmbH. The CRTs have an overall length of 32 metres and a minimum bollard pull of 70 tonnes.
Separately, Multraship has also agreed a deal with Damen for a new ASD 3212 tug as part of its planned fleet expansion. The Dutch-flag, LR-registered MULTRATUG 31 was built at Damen Song Cam, Vietnam. A sister vessel to MULTRATUGs 19, 29 and 30, it will operate mainly in the Western Scheldt area. It has a maximum bollard pull of 83.2 tonnes and a maximum speed of 15 knots.
Boluda The Boluda tug VB HISPANIA, recently brought into the Boluda Towage and Salvage fleet, has conducted its first offshore operation.
A private blessing ceremony was held in November with family and staff to welcome the newest member of the Tsavliris fleet.
It involved towing the largest floating dock in Europe - the KUGIRA - owned by Acciona Infraestructuras - from Cadiz to Algeciras.
Tsavliris said the acquisition “echoed its long-standing commitment to international salvage and intends to further expand its fleet and acquire additional tugs in the near future.”
The dock, displacing 13606 tonnes, is 77 metres long, 49 metres wide and 56 metres high. The dock is being used in the extension of the wharf Campamento in the port of Algeciras. The VB HISPANIA - 8050 HP and 103 tonnes bollard pull - acted as the main tug and the SERTOSA 18 - 3350 HP and 48 tonnes bollards of pull - was the guide tug connected to the stern of the dock.
Separately, Tsavliris Salvage Group held its 28th traditional Christmas Cocktail Reception at the Royal Thames Yacht Club of London in December. More than 300 people from various sectors of the shipping community attended the event.
A range of further Boluda craft assisted the manoeuvers in the port of Cadiz.
Propulsion is via two Voith thruster units and two ABC main engines of 2,650 kW operating at 1000 rpm. Multraship says the Carrousel tug’s lower operational costs, speed of action and enhanced control over the tow “can provide huge advantages over conventional tugs, for example by widening or even removing tidal and/or weather windows for certain ports”.
Mr Andreas A Tsavliris addressed the guests (see above) and thanked them for their support over the years. He talked about the development of the Group in 2015, including the expansion of the fleet.
Novatug will offer the Carrousel Rave tugs on the basis of long-term bareboat charters. Leendert Muller, managing director of Multraship, says, "Safety is always our overriding objective and that it is why we have opted wholeheartedly to produce
Above: The Boluda tug VB HISPANIA towing the floating dock, KUGIRA.
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He also noted the importance and value of the Lloyd’s Open Form (LOF) salvage contract and the difficulties the salvage industry is facing as well as the changes to the sector. Mr Tsavliris also announced