New tugboat named Pawlina

The newly built motor tug Pawlina, the latest addition to the Tug Malta fleet, was christened yesterday by Carmen Psaila, director of Tug Malta, at a ceremony at Pinto Wharf in Valletta.

The company said that the Pawlina was one of the most powerful tugboats employed in Mediterranean and European ports and terminals will definitely improve its services.

With a bollard pull of 68 tonnes, the tug is powered by two Caterpillar engines with a total power of 5,600 brake horse power or 4,180 kilo watts and she is highly manoeuvrable due to the two Azimuth thrusters which operate in any direction.

She is equipped with state-of-the-art machinery and equipment, including a double drum winch at the bow as well as two fire-fighting pumps and monitors. As a result of these capabilities, she is classed by Lloyd's Register as an escort and fire-fighting tug, Class 1.

Speaking at the ceremony, Investments Minister Austin Gatt thanked the board of directors and the workers for the success of the company, enabling it to finance its investments without government support. He said Tug Malta offers an essential service to Maltese ports and therefore to the economy.

He reiterated the government's intention to find a strategic partner for the company, adding that an international call will be published in the coming months.

The idea behind an international investor was for the company to be able to enlarge its operations on an international level while keeping its present obligations to the local harbours, he said.

John Sullivan, the company chairman, said tugboats similar to the Pawlina are manned by a crew of three to four in European ports. In Malta the tug will be manned by a crew of four and the company has initiated discussions with the union and its employees for all omni-directional tugs to be operated with a crew of four persons.

This, he said, will be achieved over a period of four to five years by natural wastage.

Mr Sullivan thanked Damen Shipyards of Holland for all the assistance given to Tug Malta's personnel during the tugboat's construction.

Canon Alfred Camilleri, archpriest of St Paul's Shipwreck church in Valletta, blessed the boat.