Hercules the Harbor Tug, by Michael O'Hearn

Noah and Tanika spend a day aboard the tugboat Hercules learning about the boats and animals in the harbor. Imagine a busy harbor with many different kinds of ships and boats. The most important boat in the harbor is the tugboat. What exactly does it do? Noah and Tanika find out first hand when they spend an exciting day on a tugboat called Hercules.

O'Hearn, a nautical photo-journalist and writer, makes his children's book debut with this lively look at the goings-on in a bustling port. Readers accompany two children, Tanika and Noah, aboard the tug Hercules. The amiable captain, Lucy, shows the kids a ferry carrying people and cars; a dredger sucking up mud; tugs pulling a barge and guiding a cruise ship; and a crane unloading a freighter's cargo. Lucy describes each process as well as the Hercules's duties: towing a boom around a newly sunken ship to contain any leaking oil and carrying mail to an anchored tanker waiting for a place to dock. Lucy also explains the function of buoys and lighthouses, points out various marine species (a seal, porpoises, jellyfish, cormorants) and finally steers her craft to join a parade of tugboats. Never mind the questionable likelihood of sighting all this activity in one harbor on a single day-with his crisp prose and concise descriptions, O'Hearn imparts a good deal of information during this short cruise. And although her images of people are not as convincing as those depicting the harbor's hubbub, Lyman's grainy, boldly hued paintings convey the maritime excitement. All ages.

Copyright 1995 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

It has been reported that Friday 25th March 2016, seven Smit tugs were reflagged from the Bahama to Malta flag. The tugs are the five ASD 2810 tugs SMIT ELBE, SMIT HUDSON, SMIT SCHELDE, SMIT SEINE and SMIT EBRO, as well as the two ASD 3213 tugs SMIT CHEETAH and SMIT PANTHER. The technical adjustments like MMSI and radio survey were carried out. The tugs are on the AIS already observed.
(source: Tugs and Towage Newsletter / Hans van der Ster)

It is reported that the 1984 built Dutch registered with call sign PIMU tug WATERMAN (Imo 8318166) from Royal Wagenborg Sleepdiensten – Delfzijl; Netherlands has been sold to Russian owners. She was spotted under the Russian flag as MB LINTER 2. The tug was built by Scheepswerf H.H. Bodewes B.V. Millingen a/d Rijn and outfitted at Scheepswerf Damen BV – Gorinchem under respectively yard numbers 773 and 8642. In 1987 delivered to Wagenborg as the second under this name Waterman. She has a length of 28.48 mtrs a beam of 9.15 mtrs and a depth of 4.27 mtrs. The two MWM TBD440 main engines develope a total output of 1,801 kW (2,448 apk). She has a free sailing speed of 12 knots and a bollard pull of 32.2 tons. The tug is classed Lloyd Register of Shipping.
(Source & Photo: Jasiu van Haarlem)

The champagne flowed freely as Smit Lamnalco celebrated the naming and blessing of the latest additions to its fleet of tug boats. The Smit Lamnalco tugs for the LNG Gladstone project were christening on the 23rd March 2016. The vessels are named SL Curtis Island; SL Quoin Island, SL Boyne Island; SL Heron Island and SL Wiggins Island. The five tugs are built by Sanmar Turkey. The tugboats will service three LNG export terminals in the Port of Gladstone on Australia's east coast. This Robert Allan RAster 3400 series are Bureau Veritas-classed tugs, and are 34 metres long, 14.5 metres wide, have a maximum draft of six metres and have FiFi 1 notation. Powered by a pair of Wärtsilä 8L26 diesel engines, each developing 2,720 kW at 1,000 rpm, the tugs have a bollard pull ahead of 86 tonnes, astern of 80 tonnes and a free-running speed of 15 knots.

Risk of capsizing under tow load eliminated; - Unique maneuverability ; - Highly efficient braking and steering operations

In cooperation with Robert Allan Ltd. (RAL) and Novatug B.V., Voith participated in the development of a new tug. The Carrousel RAVE Tug (CRT) is characterized by a towing winch on a ring. This ring can rotate freely around the tug's deckhouse – a unit referred to as the "Carrousel Towing System". This system eliminates the risk of capsizing under a tow load. In combination with two Voith Schneider Propellers (VSPs) arranged inline, the tug design allows for a slender and highly efficient hull. New and previously unseen levels of tug operation safety and efficiency will be reached with this evolutionary concept. The first two Carrousel RAVE Tugs are currently under construction for Novatug B.V., a subsidiary of Multraship Towage & Salvage. Braking and steering operations can be performed highly efficiently with the new tugs. Utilization of the hull forces rather than the propulsor forces results in lower fuel consumption and fewer emissions. The CRT can carry out maneuvers not been seen before with any other tugboat concept. During these maneuvers, the yaw angles of the tug are virtually limitless. The VSPs were chosen for their precise thrust control, quick response and insensitivity to variations in inflow direction. Arranged in-line, the VSPs allow very smooth and precise control of the tug heading under all possible operating conditions. The towline force can continuously be controlled safely and precisely via the VSPs. With the help of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), the Voith ship simulator and model testing, extensive optimization work has been performed on the design to determine the optimum position of the propellers relative to the carrousel system as well as the optimum size and position of the skeg. The result is a very well balanced tug that is stable and easy to handle in all sea and weather conditions. The VSPs are controlled via a fully redundant Voith electronic joystick control system. In November 2015, Damen Shipyards Group began construction of the tugs through their subsidiary Van der Velden Barkemeyer GmbH. Delivery is scheduled for the first quarter of 2017. The CRTs are 32 meters in length overall and have a maximum operational draught of 6.30 meters. Propulsion is via two 32RV5 EC/250 Voith Schneider Propellers in combination with 1150 DTL Voith Turbo Couplings, Renk gear couplings and two ABC main engines delivering 2,650 kW at 1,000 rpm. The slender hull shape of the CRTs and the controllable pitch propeller characteristic of the VSPs allow a free running speed of 14 knots. The bollard pull will be 70 tons. Irrespective of the compact size of the CRTs, the steering forces reach an impressive 160 t at 10 knots.
(Press Release, taken from Tugs Towing and Offshore Newsletter / Hans van der Ster)

The Shoalbuster 3512 NOORDSTROOM was launched at Gorinchem and moved to Damen Hardinxveld for further fitting out and to get ready for delivery end of April. The NOORDSTROOM ", length 35.00 meters and a width of 12.0 meters, brings a range of benefits: - Bollard Pull of approx. 55 tons at 2.90 meters draft - Extensive working deck of 145 m² - Accommodation up to 11 personnel - Office room for the client, incl. V-Sat connection - Fuel efficient due to three main engines - Sustainable techniques on board, resulting in: "Clean Ship Notation" from Bureau Veritas - "Anchor Handling Notation" from Bureau Veritas The new 3512 will be available for deployment wherever it is required. A Bollard pull of 55 tonnes with a draft of 2.90 meters will make it invaluable for heavy towage in shallow waters, a HS Marine deck crane with a lifting capacity of 11.3 ton @16.5 metres. An ability to carry up to seven (7x 20 ft.) and two (2x 10 ft) standard containers, facilitate diving, survey, renewables and dredging operations.With a fuel bunkering capacity of 255.0 m³ and 43.0 m³ freshwater capacity and waterfallanchor handling / towing winch which hold a wire of 600 and 1000 meters, will the " NOORDSTROOM " also appropriate for long distance towageAs optional the "Noordstroom" can fitted with the following equipment: - A-Frame (50 tons SWL) - Ploughing equipment - 4 points mooring system - Water injection dredging system - Diving ops. platform - ROV platform

Tug masters experience the effects of a tug's stability every day when manoeuvring their vessel, either free sailing or when assisting ships. During tug operations, a number of forces and combinations are working on a tug – such as towline, hydrodynamic, steering and propulsion forces – often at or near their maximum with respect to the tug's stability. It is, therefore, not just desirable but necessary for tug masters to have at least a basic idea of the elements of stability. They need to know where the limits are, and what the consequences could be, if the tug or tug handling practices don't conform to the rules of stability – not only in normal circumstances but also when extreme conditions, such as dense fog and storms, occur. The consequences can be very dramatic. Numerous harbour tugs have capsized, often with tragic consequences. In the tug capsizes known to have occurred between 2010 and 2015, more than 45 people have drowned. This educational guide to stability specifically for tugs aims to provide this important information to tug masters. It is written in a manner readily understood by all tug masters, regardless of their education, formal qualifications, nationality or operational backgrounds. The text is accompanied by numerous illustrations and photographs. In writing this handbook, the authors master mariner and pilot Captain Henk Hensen and naval architect Dr. Markus van der Laan have focussed on the practical aspects of stability, tug design and equipment and also on the consequences of unsafe procedures. Their emphasis is on harbour tugs, although several of the topics covered apply equally to seagoing tugs." The authors have produced an original and valuable training guide which will increase the knowledge of tug stability within the industry, and so enhance the safety of tugs, tug crew and the ships they support. It is hoped that this increased knowledge will indeed enhance safety and help to protect the marine environment." Ashok Mahapatra Director, IMO Maritime Safety Division. "This tug stability book will greatly contribute towards safer towage operations by enhancing the working knowledge of tug masters. It is an important publication for all tug masters and towage managers, no matter what facet of the towage industry they are engaged in." Arie Nygh ITA Patron; Managing Director, SeaWays Consultants.

Published by the ABR company
Visit: www.tugandosv.com

Towing Line / Hans van der Ster

The latest newsletter of the National Towage Museum dated January 2016 is published!

You will find the newsletter in the News category in this website, from where you can download this document, and on Facebook. If you would like to receive the news bulletins directly on your personal mail account, please let us know on the mail page in this website in the Contact chapter.
The newsletter is published quarterly, in January, April, July and October.
Note: the newsletter is published in the Dutch language only. If you are really interested in a particular item, please contact us and we will inform you more thoroughly.

This bulletin contains:

- preface from the chairman, with new year's wishes, the membership of the new burgomaster of the town of Maassluis of the Supervisory Board of the museum and the wake up call for the continuity of the donationship in a changing environment.
- report on the presence of musical singer Noortje Herlaar in the museum during the Furieade festival in october last year at the occasion of the farewell reception of the former burgomaster of Maassluis, Mr. Koos Karssen
- request for usage of an EUMIG film projector
- a story about the ship bell, her functions in the old and in present days and the original bells that are present in the museum
- report on the traditional yearly Allemansend, a cosy gathering of the museum's volunteers, dayly board and the Supervisory Board
- a number of photo shots of the traditional new year's drink in the museum
- PR activities: a report on the fair Europort 2015, that was also attended by a delegation and a stand of the Tug Harbour Foundation and the National Dutch Towage Museum

Please press the blue button to download the newsletter.