Lawrence Dalli, Ta' l-Ibraġ
What use for new tug?
On Saturday, November 14, 2009, the latest tug, the Spinola, was christened by Catherine Gonzi at Pinto 2 Wharf, Viset Terminal, Grand Harbour. Spinola was delivered to Malta from her builders Astilleros Armon S.A. Navia in Spain, with her arrival having been on July 3, 2009. The tug was blessed in a very informal ceremony on Tuesday, July 7 at her berth in Timber Wharf, Grand Harbour.
Since then the 80-tonne bollard pull tug was engaged in a rig movement in the Tunisian waters and also at Civitavecchia, Italy. According to Tug Malta chairman John Sullivan, the tug will be based in Malta and will carry out both harbour towage services and salvage/off port towage services.
But since her arrival it wasn't used for salvage operations! Tug Sea Salvor is the tug operating in salvage operations beginning with the Panamian flag vessel Fedel Moon which developed engine failure off Delimara on December 14 at 6 p.m., with the Sea Salvor leaving Valletta at 12.26 a.m. on December 15.
Then again on December 15, the Sea Salvor went offshore Tunisia to salvage and tow the disabled general cargo vessel Borndiep, returning on Wednesday, December 16.
The story repeated herself with the salvage operation of the disabled vessel Fastrex on January 18, with the Sea Salvor leaving Marsaxlokk Harbour to offshore Malta.
Also on January 16, with wind gusting NW force 7, the only tugs available to assist the 224-metre car carrier Hoegh Tokyo were the 32-tonne bollard pull tug Feliċa and the 35-tonne bollard pull tug Lieni, leaving the Spinola as a monument berthed at Timber Wharf for nothing and with the car carrier awaiting within territorial waters for berthing instructions.
This means the Spinola wasn't used in salvage operations as stated, and apart from a few harbour towages such as assisting drillship Songa Saturn; tankers to enter Marsaxlokk Harbour; and cement barge Africa at Grand Harbour, it seems that the €10.7 million Tug Malta tugboat is a waste of money.
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Raymond Bartolo
Feb 11th 2010, 14:09
I would like now to comment on the issue of the use of Tug Spinola on the "salvage" operations referred to in Mr. Dalli's letter. To start with I must first state that MV Fedel Moon is 86 metres long, MV Fastrex is 76 metres long and MV Borndiep is 107 metres long. In this regard, all three (3) vessels are considered to be quite small and therefore did not require the 80 tons bollard pull produced by Spinola to be towed to Malta. For this particular reason, Sea Salvor was employed, thus keeping Spinola available for any other "salvage" job that could have cropped up and may have required the bollard pull capabilities of this vessel.
Raymond Bartolo
Feb 11th 2010, 13:53
It is quite evident that your correspondent Mr. Dalli is not so well informed. Spinola arrived in Malta on 03/07/2009 after delivery from the Shipyard in Spain. Between 13/07/2009 and 22/07/2009, Spinola was Chartered out working in the Didon Oilfield off Zarzis Tunisia, than again on the 26/07/2009, Tug Spinola left Malta and was Chartered out until 15/09/2009 working at the LNG terminal in Chioggia, Italy. On her returm to Malta, the main towing wire was removed from the towing drum and 1500 metres of 32 mm diameter steel wire were accommodated on the main towing drum. Subsequntly, between 24/09/2010 and 01/10/2010 Spinola was chartered out to Denholm Offshore Limited working offshore Tunisia carrying out seabed preparation work in anticipation of cable laying operations. Therefore as you can see, Spinola was never anywhere near Civitavecchia, Italy. Following the termination of the contract with Denholm, the crew members of Tug Malta Ltd commenced training on Spinola in order for same to be introduced into the Company's Tug Roster. In actual fact, Spinola was introduced in the Tug Roster on 25/01/2010. Since 01/10/2009, Spinola has carried out a good number of harbour towage services both within Grand Harbour and particularly at Marsaxlokk.
Pule' Carmel
Feb 7th 2010, 00:18
This is an electrical Joke for electrical engineers only. Many years ago a colleague of mine ordered a 50 Ton crane for the powerstation and the red tape beurocratic officials at Castile asked him to give a solid reason for ordering a 50 Ton Crane. He simply wrote, " I need a 50 Ton crane to raise the lowpower factor of the power station" and believe me , he got his 50 Ton crane.
With a bollard pull of 80 Ton, now that we are in the EU, could we not divide the voting zones into smaller zones and use the Tug to pull Malta a little closer to Europe, were perhaps we may get all the conditions existing elsewhere? and the Maltasouth will get a better deal.
Note When Gorbachev and the American President met in Malta, the tremendous windy conditions at Marsaxlokk made good use of the heavy tug boats in Malta.
I still remember the ROBUST, THE DIRECTOR, and the one with PADDLEWHEELS on its side , and the old Sea Solvo which was a cable laying and bouy laying ship I believe. They were so gently handled, kissing and caressing partner ships when these needed assistance.