Dutch Tugs

Old glory, the Dutch tug Smitwijs Singapore built in 1984 and broken up in 2014 in Alang, India.

One of the new generation of Dutch tugs, the Fairmount Sherpa, a much simpler design, but a super tug with 205 tons of bollard pull. There are presently five of these babies.

I disagree that the Fairmount Sherpa and her sisters are simpler than the old Smit tugs. (I have worked with all of them at some time)

The Fairmount tugs can do a lot more than just tow ships, rigs or “unusual floating objects” cross oceans, which is their main task.

When towing say a FPSO they will assist in the mooring and hook-up operation when they get there, something the Smit tugs couldn’t do.

But I must admit that the old ones look a lot better.

The most sophisticated Dutch ocean tugs today is the ALP Future class:
https://www.marineinsight.com/videos/watch-alp-strikers-bollard-pull-testing/

What I meant with ‘simpler’ was the accommodation, the superstructure which is quite impressive of the Smitwijs Singapore. I donot see much crew accommodation on the Fairmount Sherpa. Technically the new tugs are of course superior and more versatile.

I MAY have some pictures of the accommodations, if not on the Sherpa, then one of the sisters. But give me some time to check. (I have inspected a few of them, incl. Sherpa)

Pity that the old Smit tug had to go, but they became uneconomical, even after some fairly major upgrades done towards the end.

Alp Maritime’s office is located in the Maas Tower in Rotterdam. Their fleet of tugs is shown on this website page.

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Well you are aware that when talking to “da bugge”, it’s all about the performance of the equipment. Crew concerns and comfortable berthing are ancillary. :stuck_out_tongue:

Well the fluorescent green and safety orange color scheme doesn’t do much for her.

Are they still owned by Fairmoint? I’m sure I’ve seen a couple with the prefix dropped.

This remark reminds me of some of the American offshore vessel designs which didn’t seem to have any portholes in the deckhouse. Sure, you’re not supposed to spend your time staring out from the window, but it still gives a certain impression about the crew comfort…

In one of our designs, the captain commented that he has never been a cabin with four 55 by 40 inch double panorama windows, one of which was placed on an inclined front bulkhead so that while laying on the bed, you could look up and see the sky.

I am increasingly curious about the crew accommodation. The tugs were built in Japan were they are used to small spaces. A Japanese once told me that his tiny living room had its advantages because while sitting in the middle he could reach the television, the stereo system, the book shelf etc.

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Sorry. I have searched my files but it appears I have only been doing tow related surveys on the Fairmount tugs. Lots of pictures from the bridge, deck and engine room, but none of the accommodations:

As far as I can remember the accommodations were of good European standard, for a total of 36 pers., with a regular marine crew of 12 in 6 x single cabins, 3 x double cabins according to specs. (24 Riding crew in 4-men cabins)

If you have read anything of what I have written you should know that is not the case. On the contrary.
I still remember vividly coming on board my first American flag OSV as Navigator and being assigned an upper bunk in a tiny cabin with steel bunks and lockers, painted bulkheads with no panelling and no port hole. A hole had been cut through the bulkhead to fit an A/C window unit, which was blowing directly at my bunk. Galley and mess room combined and wooden benches to sit on quickly changed any illusion I may have had about American high standard.

Present owner Boskalis is changing the name of all their vessel to Boka xxxxx. I know the F.Sherpa have changed, not sure about the rest of the former Fairmount fleet.

Even modern American OSVs still feature plenty of 4 man rooms. A junior officer’s cabin on a box ship would house 8 on an OSV or OSV-based specialty vessel.

I had a Dutch tug once. Much nicer than a Dutch rub on your Netherlands.

What about the “Dutch rudder”?

Have look on Ulstein X-Bow Alp Tugs.
Traction on Bollard pull 309 Tons.
Excellents in bad weather.

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