Tidewater doesn’t only own and operate OSVs:
We called them “rule beaters”. The scam was to install 2" angle iron removable floors in the engine room to result in 0 tonnage. Space under floors were not counted in tonnage calculation. After inspector leaves remove floors. HP had to be less than 1000.
Result. needs no inspection. Rules have been revised.
As to “fun to watch with a distinct style of handling barges” Yea we tend not to put a barge “on the hip” for a landing. Preferring to keep it on bridles, drop the inside one just prior to landing make any final adjustments "On one wing (bridle). Stop it up, drop off and pin it. Easy Peasy. Cowboys liked to do this fast, using lots of power and emitting lots of black smoke. Another “fun way” was spin casting a ramp scow onto a shallow approach beach landing 
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Van der Wees operated inland pushboat BROEDERTROUW II “free” sailing river Oude Maas en route to Dordrecht. Note the “pin-up girl” in front, normally invisible.
Photo: Nico Giltay (c)
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Two powerful Emergency Towing/Rescue Vessels soon to add security in French waters:
In 2021 Les Abeilles International won a tender for operating the French Emergency Towing Vessels and decided to purchase and convert two anchor handling tugs for the new service. Former SIEM DIAMOND and SIEM GARNET were sent as DIAMOND and GARNET to German Naval Yards at Kiel where the latter already left the dock as ABEILLE NORMANDIE, with ABEILLE MEDITERRANÈE following soon. Both were originally built by Kleven Verft AS as part of a series of 10 units of the Vik Sandvik VS491CD design for Siem Offshore AS. With a 280 t bollard pull these two units will providevery powerful assistance in future emergency situations at the French coast.
Photo : Martin Lochte-Holtgreven ©
The Robert Allan design. 42 mtrs. x 16, x 7 mtrs draft. 100 Tons BP, 8.000 hp, 1.227 GT. Sisters “SL IBO”, “SL MATEMO”, “SL MACALOE”, are built by Uzmar Shipyard for Smit Lamanalco:
RASCAL and ROWDY were successfully delivered to Brusco Tug & Barge in September 2024:
Getting dancing lessons:
Looks a bit like a bath tub from above:
Yes it is a actual factual working tug:
Where the heck is the rest?
TRAnsverse 3200 type SVITZER BARRINGTON in the Steelworks Channel, Newcastle NSW; returning to base after bollard pull tests. Photo : Buster Browne (c)
Since there are a lot of tug people on the forum I thought I’d post a link to a free monthly magazine about tugs and the tug world:
The bi-monthly magazine deals with tugs, towage and related subjects past and present. It’s all about new developments in the towage industry, sales and renamings in the towage market, ship’s histories, tug newbuilding, local and worldwide towage, company history, and related subjects. The magazine is presented in electronic form only delivered to your doorstep or wheelhouse in PDF format. Furthermore the sister publication TugeNewsletter will present you with additional articles and news items. And all for free.
Source: Maasmond Newsclippings 212-2025