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.