New tugboat christened

A new tugboat, the Spinola, was christened by Mrs Catherine Gonzi this evening.

The new 80 tonnes Bollard Pull harbour and escort/terminal tug is the latest addition to Tug Malta’s present fleet of six modern tugs.

It was ordered from the Spanish Shipyard Armon S.A. and was primarily designed to operate in the Maltese harbours and their approaches.

The tug is fully equipped with Fire-Fighting Class 1, oil recovery and salvage equipment and Voith Schneider propulsion and twin MAK main engines able to give a total power of 7180 BHP, resulting in the powerful bollard pull of 80 tonnes.

Its winch is a double drum in waterfall arrangement, having the upper drum for long distance purposes with a drum capacity of 1,000 metre steel wire rope. The tug also has a lower drum divided into two sections, one for escorting purposes (capacity 250 metres of synthetic rope) and one for harbour towing (capacity 150 metres of synthetic rope).

The vessel was delivered to Malta from Spain under the command of Capt. Herman Thornton, Tug Malta’s operations manager and manned by a Maltese crew. She will be based in Malta and will carry out both harbour towage services and salvage/off port towage services.

Tug Malta chairman John Sullivan said that since Rimorchiatori Riuniti Group acquired the majority shareholding in Tug Malta, they invested over €100 million to acquire all shares and to place orders for this tug and two Anchor Handling Supply vessels currently under construction in Spain and expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2010.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said the €10.7 million investment would further enhance Malta’s potential in the maritime sector.

He promised that the government would continue to create the right conditions leaving the private sector to invest and grow in other areas of the maritime sector.

It would also be seeing to the further regeneration of Grand Harbour.

The government was also investing €10 million in dredging works for the ports to continue to fulfil their function.