Signing for new tugs: pictured (l/r) are: Peter Lee, General Manager of Semco; V. Sivarajan, Managing Director of Semco parent PSA Marine; Tokuro Takagi, Executive Officer, USC; and Tetsuro Morita, Team Leader, Newbuilding and Commercial Vessels, USC.
Following up on the delivery of two 165 tons bollard pull towing/salvage tugs in early 2004, Semco Salvage & Marine Pte Ltd has taken a step in renewing and enhancing fleet capability. The PSA Marine subsidiary has signed with Universal Shipbuilding Corp (USC) of Japan for two 150 tons towing/salvage tugs (with an option for a third).
The contract was signed by V. Sivarajan, Managing Director of PSA Marine, and Peter Lee, General Manager of Semco. Signing on behalf of USC was Tokuro Takagi, Executive Officer, and Tetsuro Morita, Team Leader, Newbuilding and Commercial Vessels. The two new tugs will be built at USC’s Keihin Shipyard, near Kawasaki. USC is owned by Hitachi Zosen and NKK.
The first of the two new tugs is expected to be delivered at the end of 2006, with the second unit following three months later.
As in the case of the tugs Salvanguard and Salviscount, delivered in early 2004, the newbuildings will have 2,000 cbm tankage capacity for heavy fuel, enabling the tugs to tow non-stop for over 6,000 nautical miles without refuelling. Peter Lee says: “This is a key operational advantage over the competition. These tugs will also be fully equipped with shark’s jaws, stern roller, bow and stern thrusters and salvage gear. The vessels will be manned by experienced Semco towing and salvage crew.”
He adds: “Semco will continue to provide high quality towage services, especially in the field of FPSO towage. At this moment, three Semco tugs are towing the FPSO Kizomba B from Ulsan, South Korea, to offshore Luanda, Angola. This is a repeat contract from a major Korean yard and an oil major. The marine spread is also being escorted by a fourth Semco tug and Semco’s AHTS Salvana will join the convoy for precise positioning of the FPSO off Luanda. In common with the earlier Kizomba A FPSO assignment – which Semco towed and positioned off Luanda last year –Kizomba B will also be positioned and the moorings secured on deck by a Semco FPSO project team.”