Atlantic Towage and Marine

TAKING SALVAGE AND TOWAGE IN NEW DIRECTIONS

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TAKING SA LVAGE AND NEW TOWAGE IN DIRECTIONS

Over the last decade, Atlantic Towage and Marine has increased its vessel fleet beyond its Irish south coast borders and is now primed for an addition, with a first-ever new build. Andy Probert spoke to Managing Director Sean Harrington about the company’s ambitions.

ASAtlantic Towage and Marine reaches its 15th anniversary with its founder and Managing Director Sean Harrington still at the helm, the company is looking to up the ante with a fleet addition.

The Ireland-based marine services company has placed its firstever order for a new build with Damen Shipyards for a MultiCat 2309, the latest addition to Damen’s range of highly versatile, multipurpose workboats.

Scheduled for delivery in 2023, it will play an essential role in Atlantic Towage’s expansion beyond Ireland, UK and mainland Europe – and further consolidate its presence.

Fleet and work diversity

A fleet of 14 tugs, dive support vessels, and multipurpose workboats, enables Atlantic Towage and Marine to offer a wide range of services, including salvage, ship handling/berthing, towage, surveys, buoy and mooring handing, and pollution response. It also works on various contracts for construction companies and insurance companies.

Based in Bere Island, in the sheltered waters of Bantry Bay on Ireland’s south coast, the majority of the company’s regular work comes from Zenith Energy’s oil storage facility at Whiddy Island, West Cork.

Atlantic Towage and Marine assists in maneuvering oil tankers as large as 300,000 tons but also offers tailored services to help with rig support, guard vessel duties, pilot and line boats, jetty services, and in-shore and shallow water work.

ATLANTIC TOWAGE AND MARINE I PROFILE

In more recent times – and where the new MultiCat 2309’s versatility will further spearhead its push – is the increasing contract work Atlantic Towage is picking up from the offshore renewables sector in European waters.

Mr Harrington said: “We have seen work increase in the renewables sector in the last 12 to 18 months. We support surveying work for the eventual laying of cables to the wind farms. The new MultiCat will be a warmly welcomed addition and help better cater to our clients’ future needs.”

To optimise the vessel for its role, Mr Harrington has specified a larger forward deck crane, AKC 185 HE4, and an aft deck crane, HS AK34 HE4, from HS Marine, plus a DP1 system from Kongsberg.  It will be the first in its range to operate with a Dynamic Positioning System, while additional customisations will enhance its operational profile and deliver better client service.

While the MultiCat 2309 comes IMO Tier II compliant, Atlantic Towage has selected the option that pre-prepares the engineering space to retrofit a Damen Marine Nox Reduction System. This uses selective catalytic reduction technology to deliver Tier III compliance and, with the space already available, can be fitted as and when.

“We chose Damen based on its reputation in the market, plus we already have a Damen vessel in our fleet which has performed well. We look forward to taking delivery next year and putting the MultiCat to work immediately,” acknowledged Mr Harrington.

Work has been completed on the superstructure at Damen Shipyards Ko ´ z le, and the MultiCat has now been taken to the Netherlands to be fitted out.

Boats in the blood

It has taken less than a decade for Mr Harrington’s fleet and workforce to more than double in numbers. That reflects the demand for Atlantic Towage’s multidisciplinary services across different marine sectors and Mr Harrington’s passion for working at sea.

Mr Harrington mastered his trade courtesy of his father’s ferry business. “I used to work on the ferries going out to the island. My father owns the ferry service, so I worked there when I was on summer holidays from school and on weekends for years,” he reflected.

This inherited desire to work on the sea is one of the reasons why Atlantic Towage and Marine has continued to expand. “I was brought up on boats. It’s what I’ve always done from a young age and what I will always do. I enjoy my job.”

This passion is the primary driving force that has motored Atlantic Towage into its position as one of the leading companies in its sector.  Crews are highly experienced and trained in the towage and salvage industry. A professional onshore management team backs them up to ensure customers’ needs are met with the highest standards.

“We remain a forward-looking organisation that invests heavily to develop our fleet, equipment, and personnel to continue to provide the safest, best and most efficient services,” he said.

The company has also received ISO 90001, 14001, and 450001 and was accredited by DNV.

Keeping its competitive edge, Atlantic Towage boosted its fleet with the twin-engine MV Trojan, which underwent an extensive refit, and now coupled with a deck crane and hydraulic A-frame, its versatility is being deployed for towage and marine projects.

Attention to detail

The company further added the Damen-built Tug Ocean Battler. The 19.5m vessel, with a Bollard Pull of 21t, was overhauled at the Macduff shipyard and was put straight to work on the construction works of the NnG Wind Farm on the Firth of Forth, Scotland. She then continued down to Fecamp where she spent the summer working on another renewable energy project.

Mr Harrington said the fleet’s work in recent months had also included salvage of a fishing vessel, buoy deployment and raising a sunken fishing boat outside Cork harbour. But towage, in general, still accounts for about 50% of its business.

The company has also provided vessels in Dublin Port to Zenith Energy for fire-fighting and oil spill response cover, and mooring operations.

Mr Harrington commented: “What sets us apart in the industry is that we are built on generations of experience using innovative technology and techniques, pay close attention to every detail, and if we say we will do it, we do.”

Looking ahead, he concluded: “We want to keep expanding, offering our services to the renewables sector and growing our operations and relevance in European waters. Our new MultiCat will undoubtedly help in that regard.”