Tugs demonstrated their role in port construction, lock gate renovation and newbuilding manoeuvres
Boluda Towage completed numerous specialised ship assistance projects in Q4 2021, providing tugs to manoeuvre heavy transport, naval, research and cruise ships. Cargo for European construction and infrastructure projects was also transported into ports by Boluda tugs.
For one of these projects, Boluda Towage tugs assisted in the transport of a lock gate to Zeebrugge’s Pierre Vandamme lock in Belgium. After a 1.5-year renovation, this huge lock gate returned to the lock complex on 5 December 2021. At 60 m long, 24 m high and 11 m wide, the gate weighs more than 2,000 tonnes.
It was transported and lifted on Scaldis’ heavy-lift vessel Rambiz back into its original position with assistance from Boluda tugs. This operation was part of the major renovation works on the Pierre Vandamme lock, which is crucial for access into Zeebrugge’s inner port.
In another project, Boluda Towage tugs assisted the transfer of a ship-to-shore (STS) crane to a container terminal in Valencia, Spain. VB Xerea, VB Poder and VB Sonador, all based in the Spanish port, helped transfer the STS crane from a heavy transport vessel on 8 November 2021.
In France, Boluda Towage’s tug VB Provence towed a crane barge from the Port of La Nouvelle, south of Narbonnne to the Port of Marseille Fos. 68-m crane barge Edmond was towed between the southern French ports in September 2021, an example of the tailored coastal towage services Boluda Towage provides in the Mediterranean market.
In northern Germany, Boluda Towage tugs accompanied AIDA’s flagship AIDAcosma cruise ship out from Meyerwerft Shipyards Papenburg on its maiden voyage in October, assisting the cruise ship’s passage through the Ems and turning it in front of the Emden sea lock on its voyage to Eemshaven. In the port of Eemshaven, tugs assisted the 337-m cruise ship with the inclination tests.
Boluda’s VB Geeste was at the bow, while Bugsier 6 was at the stern and Peter Wessels of Emder Schlepp-Betrieb (ESB) was escorting for emergencies.
In the UK, Boluda Towage assisted polar research ship RRS Sir David Attenborough into the port of London on the River Thames through the Woolwich Barrier to moor at the Royal Museum, Greenwich on 27 October 2021. Prior to that, RRS Sir David Attenborough had completed sea trials and was ready to undertake its first expedition.
On 20 September 2021, Boluda Towage assisted Royal Navy’s Type 45 Destroyer HMS Daring (D32) into Cammell Laird’s drydock near Liverpool, UK, towing the naval ship down the River Mersey and manoeuvring it into the drydock. It was in Cammell Laird’s shipyard after spending time in Portsmouth having work done.
“Prior to the start of operations, meetings were held with representatives, to discuss all safety aspects of the launching operation and the transit from the shipyard,” said Boluda Towage. “This resulted in an overview of the required operational preparations and procedures, outlining responsibilities, communications and nautical restrictions.”
Prior to this specialised project towage, Boluda Towage procured specialised ropes and calculated the lengths for safe execution. Its team secured the lines at the stern of the hull.
In Scotland, Caledonian Towage, which is being acquired by Boluda Towage, assisted a heavy transport vessel carrying cargo for an offshore windfarm project at the end of 2021.
Two of its azimuth stern drive tugs assisted heavy transport vessel Xiang Rui Kuo in Cromarty Firth, UK on 21 December.
Strathdee and Strathdon tugs, with 65 tonnes of bollard pull, towed and manoeuvred this vessel to a berth at Global Energy Group’s Port of Nigg facility. Xiang Rui Kuo had arrived from the United Arab Emirates, loaded with five 1,800-tonne jackets. These jackets were unloaded from the vessel at the berth.
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