June

200

6

page 3Big day for ‘Smit Kamara’

page 8Katrina/Rita: work continues

to speed recovery

page 5Rotterdam fleet replacement

now under way

page 11Installation completed for‘De Ruyter’ field structures

page 4Rapid progress in

SMIT’s fleet renewal

page 16Rotterdam success for ITS 2006

More Buoyant performance boosts SMIT’s results 2

Expanding the geographical spread of harbour towage 4

Rapid progress in SMIT’s fleet renewal 4

SMIT Terminals wins new long-term contracts 5

New tugs commence long-term contract in Egypt 6

‘Pentow Service’ flies vessel survey award pennant 6

Global spread of SMIT’s salvage operations 7

Preparing to support Caspian oil and gas developments 9

Sheerlegs ‘Taklift 7’ completes German bridge assignment 9

‘Giant 2’ completes Alcan transport programme 10

SMIT’s lead role in windfarm project 10

SMIT Amandla Marine: full ahead for future growth 12

Caring for the marine environment 12

SMIT Singapore receives honours 13

Asian Lift celebrates 20 years 13

SMIT Transport & Heavy Lift expands fleet 13

URS: new tugs for Zeebrugge expected by year-end 14

Sharing knowledge of casualty response and pollution prevention 14

SmitWijs expands GTA ocean towage pool 15

The ‘SSP Piranema’ was offloaded in Rotterdam Europoort and towed

to the Keppel Verolme shipyard in Rotterdam Botlek on May 25th, 2006.

www.smit.com

ColophonFor any information about specific activities,

equipment and services, please apply to:

SMIT

Waalhaven O.Z. 85

P.O. Box 59052

3008 PB Rotterdam

Tel + 31 10 454 99 11

Fax + 31 10 454 97 77

E-mail company@smit.com

Editor

SMIT Public Relations

Texts

TRS Public Relations

SMIT Public Relations

Design & production

Studio Clarenburg, Schiedam

Photography

SMIT Public Relations

Roderik van Nispen

Hans de Jong

René Legrand

Edwin Otter

The ABR Company Ltd.

and others

Printing

Schefferdrukkerij bv, Dordrecht

Copyright

Texts can be reproduced after

permission from the editor.

BUOYANT PERFORMANCE BOOSTS SMIT’S RESULTSIn the last issue of Tug Magazine I forecast that SMIT was on course for a significant increase in net profit.

The strong first half was followed by an encouraging second half. The outcome for 2005 saw net profit

rise from €27.4 million to €38.3 million. This result exceeded the 20 per cent increase sought and is firm

evidence of the effectiveness of SMIT’s strategic programme and the skill and dedication of all employ-

ees based around the world. We all recognise that we are contributing to a successful business and that

exciting times lie ahead!

All SMIT Divisions contributed to 2005’s highly

positive outcome. All four core activities are

performing to target, as the Group continues to

invest heavily in fleet renewal and expansion.

Harbour Towage produced excellent results.

This Division benefited from structural changes

in progress in the shipping industry. It is

heartening to see the steady improvement of

efficiency in this highly competitive market. In

the case of Rotterdam-Europort, for example,

high utilisation levels were achieved in 2005.

Terminals Division also performed beyond

expectation. No profitable contracts were lost,

the scope of a number of existing contracts

was increased and new, long term work was

secured.

Salvage Division also enjoyed a good year,

despite the fact that it proved impossible to

match a truly remarkable 2004, with its long

succession of major Lloyd’s Form operations.

During the second half of 2005, SMIT Salvage

joined other salvors responding in the after-

math of the devastating hurricanes Katrina and

Rita. The Division’s busy US workload will have

a positive effect on results over several years.

Looking further ahead, operational demands

are changing in the salvage sector. The

number of salvage services falls as the ship-

ping industry’s safety record improves. On the

other hand, vessels continue to grow in size

and complexity and their operation imposes

increasing pressures on their crews. SMIT

Salvage is well-positioned to provide services

in large and complex salvage operations. It

also has a very strong focus in the vital area

of environmental care. Service enhancements

here require continuous R&D commitment as

salvage is now knowledge-driven, rather than

asset-driven.

Improved fleet utilisation underpinned

encouraging results from Transport & Heavy

Lift Division. Fleet optimisation and a clear

commercial focus have transformed SMIT

Transport’s performance and prospects. Fleet

renewal has commenced with the construction

of 10 new large anchorhandling/multipurpose

vessels, most of them dedicated to long-term

contracts and three new smaller workvessels.

This reflects SMIT’s core commercial objec-

tive: greater income stability. Transport market

factors in Europe and Asia now have a positive

character.

The position in the heavy lift sector is more

challenging, due to a dearth of large projects.

This climate is not favourable for investment

in new expensive equipment. Therefore, the

present emphasis is on consolidation rather

than expansion. Against this background,

Heavy Lift is seen as a global market and, con-

sequently, the sheerlegs are far more mobile in

the operational sense. At present, for example,

units are working in Venezuela and Brazil.

Future prospectsAs this account demonstrates, SMIT achieved

a great deal last year. There is, however, much

more to be done. In the Harbour Towage

sector, for example, further expansion will be

largely a matter of growth by acquisition or

joint ventures on at least a 50:50 basis. SMIT

is not interested in buying “steel” alone but,

rather, looks for proven expertise and presence

in the local and regional market. Our focus is

on the world’s shipping crossroads – the major

ports where our international clients require

a global standard of excellence. In a geo-

graphical sense, the emphasis is on the former

Eastern Bloc countries, Latin America and the

Far East. Our growth target is 50% over 5 years

(basis 2005).

Operations at Rotterdam-Europort in 2005

were profitable for the second year running,

following many years of losses. Nevertheless,

even greater efficiencies are required if we are

to invest in fleet renewal to the desired extent

in order to ensure our long-term future in this

market. Here, the testing of two-man opera-

tion is an important factor, which is already

having an influence on the design of new

generation tugs. At the same time, profound

changes will not happen overnight. In this

area, we want to go forward in a spirit of coop-

eration with our crews, the Works Councils and

unions.

In reviewing recent events, this February saw

SMIT complete its acquisition of 50 per cent of

the shares in Rebras, Brazil. This joint venture

has a very promising future. New standard

vessels have been ordered. We plan to com-

mence operations with 18 vessels in this coun-

try’s major ports in late 2007. We continue to

regard Brazil as a market of great significance

for SMIT.

In March of this year SMIT sold its 40 per cent

holding in Servicios Mexicanos Remolcadores

(SMR) to the joint venture partner. This deci-

sion complies with our strategic policy of hold-

ing at least 50 per cent in a joint venture.

The main challenge for the growth of the

Terminals Division is to secure new long-term

contracts. By the very nature of the task, this is

a lengthy process. The clients include some of

the world’s largest oil companies and its joint

ventures. It takes time to develop relationships

based on common procedures and standards.

Furthermore, successful bidding is not simply a

function of the competitive process. Many fac-

tors are involved in 21st century deal-making

at this level, not least a strong commitment to

localisation programmes which deliver genu-

ine benefits to local economies combined with

the highest standards on safety, health envi-

ronmental care and quality assurance (SHE-Q).

Terminals Division has a demanding growth

target: a 50 per cent increase in net profit

over a five-year period, commencing 2003.

Everyone involved in this Division’s activities

is fully committed to the drive to achieve this

goal. New contracts will begin to exert a posi-

tive influence on this Division’s results from

2006.

The development of global LNG production,

transport and storage is of first importance

in this sector. There is a growing requirement

for terminal and marine support services, as

evidenced by the recent award to SMIT of the

Damietta contract in Egypt and, in addition,

the deployment of two vessels to serve an

LNG facility in Equatorial Guinea. SMIT intends

to continue to expand the scope of existing

contracts and win new contracts. Substantial

growth in world LNG production and use is

forecast, as LNG increases its market share in

relation to other hydrocarbons. Equally, the

storage and handling of LNG is demanding in

the technical sense and requires terminal and

marine support services of the highest quality.

The “de-bottlenecking” of LNG supply, through

the construction of new and expanded facili-

ties, will continue to generate demand for

SMIT’s terminal and marine support services.

Salvage Division has good prospects, based on

its predominant position in the key disciplines

of environmental care and the strength of its

knowledge management and R&D capabili-

ties. The aims here include a consistent market

share in the 25-30% range and clear recogni-

tion as the leader in environmental protection.

In the Transport Division, the objectives

include the achievement of 10% growth and

firm positioning in the top tier of the market

with the advent of standardized multipurpose

newbuildings. This sector can deliver far more

in terms of income stability.

Looking ahead, the next challenge is to gen-

erate more growth in those business sectors

offering income stability. SMIT’s workforce has

every reason to be proud of the progress made

in recent years. We have increased profitability

at a pace which has outstripped expectations.

SMIT’s engine is running well, on all cylinders!

Most importantly, we have a workforce display-

ing high morale and an appetite for further

success. We all share this enthusiasm for more

progress.

Ben Vree

Chief Executive Officer

The Naming Ceremony for the ‘Smit Kamara’ took place at SMIT’s

quayside in the Waalhaven, Rotterdam, on February 9th. The new

vessel, built by Keppel Singmarine of Singapore, is one of a new

class of three offshore support, anchorhandling and towing vessels.

BIg dAY FOR ‘SMIT KAMARA’

The ceremony was performed by Mrs Kathy

de Weijer, wife of Robert de Weijer, Asset

Leader for the Shell UK/NAM joint venture

known as Onegas. Robert de Weijer has been

closely associated with the long-term contract

awarded to ‘Smit Kamara’. The new vessel’s role

is to act as the marine transfer base for mainte-

nance crews visiting offshore platforms in the

southern North Sea. The vessel operates from

Den Helder and Lowestoft.

Guests attending the Naming Ceremony

were welcomed by SMIT’s CEO Ben Vree. SMIT

Transport & Heavy Lift Managing Director Abel

Dutilh also addressed the gathering. He paid

tribute to the efforts of Hoe Eng Hock and the

newbuilding team at Keppel Singmarine. He

also acknowledged the efforts of SMIT’s own

team, including Fokke Jan Botke, Newbuilding

Supervisor at the yard, and his deputy, Jan

Koper. Fokke Jan Botke is now Account

Manager for the ‘Smit Kamara’ and the contract

with Shell/NAM in the southern North Sea.

The new vessel is commanded by Captain Bill

Haenen.

‘Smit Kamara’ is expected to work in the south-

ern North Sea for five years under the Shell/

NAM contract. Previously, maintenance crews

were transferred to and from the platforms

by helicopter. ‘Smit Kamara’ has an innova-

tive “Offshore Access System”, which permits

the safe transfer of personnel from vessel to

platform. The marine solution is regarded as

more cost-effective and safe than helicopter

transfers.

‘Smit Kamara’ has a length (O/A) of 70.9 m

and has accommodation for 46 persons. The

new vessel has a bollard pull of 80 tonnes

and is equipped with a powerful twin-drum

anchorhandling winch. The main engines are

two 2,460 kW Wartsila 6R32 units. The new-

building has a deck area of 450 m2 and a deck

cargo capacity of 650 tonnes. ‘Smit Kamara’

also has a Class 1 firefighting capability.

Sister vessel ‘Smit Komodo’ has also been deliv-

ered. ‘Smit Komodo’ is now working offshore

Egypt. The third vessel, ‘Smit Nicobar’, is due

for delivery in June. This vessel has a bollard

pull of 120 tonnes. Her first assignment will be

offshore Sakhalin.

Prior to the Naming Ceremony, a traditional Chinese

‘Lion Dance’ was performed for luck and prosperity.

www.smit.com3

tug magazine

SMIT Harbour Towage has made major

progress over the past half-year. During this

period SMIT completed the acquisition of 50

per cent of Rebras (Rebocadores do Brasil

SA), owners of three 55 tonnes bollard pull

ASD tugs chartered out on a bareboat basis.

Loek Kullberg, Managing Director of SMIT

Harbour Towage & Terminals, says: “The com-

pany is now known as SMIT Rebocadores do

Brasil SA and has a future based on the opera-

tion of at least 20 tugs in the 45-65 tonnes bol-

lard pull range. So far, orders have been placed

for 18 newbuildings and the first of the new

units will join the fleet in January of next year.

We plan to provide harbour towage services in

several of the larger Brazilian ports.

“The key to our strategy is to ‘follow our cli-

ents worldwide’. We expect to operate at five

Brazilian ports initially. Broadly speaking, the

harbour towage market in Brazil is similar to

that in Europe and elsewhere in the world.

Typically, there is a home operator and a

number of competitors. In essence, this is the

free market pattern. One strategy, of course,

is to acquire an existing player. If no suitable

candidate is available, the alternative is to join

together and build the necessary infrastruc-

ture. In the case of Brazil, all 18 newbuilds will

be constructed in Brazilian yards.”

SMIT Harbour Towage is also preparing to com-

mence harbour towage services at yet another

port in Argentina. Operations will commence

with three tugs, one of which is already busy

with spot work in the area. A full harbour

towage service at an important container

port will commence over the next couple of

months, in addition to services already pro-

vided at La Plata.

Looking ahead, SMIT Harbour Towage contin-

ues to explore future potential in China. Loek

Kullberg says: “In this market, once again, the

choice is the acquisition of a regional operator

or the establishment of an operation similar

to that in Brazil. In the Chinese context both

options would be challenging, as circum-

stances are so different between China and

South America.

“We are also seeking to

establish a foothold in

India, where the acquisi-

tion route may be a pos-

sibility. We see strong

potential in India and,

accordingly, we have

already started to open

an Indian entity. We plan

to begin in the terminals

sector and then expand

into harbour towage

services. This is an inter-

esting prospect as the country has many large

ports and there is strong growth in shipping

traffic.

“We believe that our future development in

India will depend heavily on achieving suc-

cessful synergies between terminal operations

and harbour towage services, based around

the deployment of highly flexible types such

as Damen 2810s, 3111s and 3112s and similar

Robert Allan designs. These tugs are equally

suited to long-term service for one client, in

the terminal context, and the provision of har-

bour towage services for many clients. In the

case of India we believe that there are interest-

ing opportunities in both sectors.”

SMIT’s strategy focuses on extending the geo-

graphical scope of harbour towage by means

of acquisitions and partnerships. One area of

good potential is northern Canada. In Prince

Rupert, for example, a new container port is to

be constructed.

Loek Kullberg adds: “South Africa is another

priority. We already have strong links with port

authorities and provide a wide range of marine

services, from terminal support to bunkering

operations. It would be natural to expand into

harbour towage. This will not be easy but there

are signs that a more positive attitude towards

competition is developing.

“In future years the efficiency of two-man

operation will be crucial to competitive per-

formance. The system is already a success in

Canada and there are plans to do trials with

two-man operation in Rotterdam during next

year. Two of the new 2810s will be equipped

for two-man operation. This whole question

is a sensitive labour relations issue but a new

spirit of partnership is beginning to emerge.”

EXPANdINg THE gEOgRAPHICAL SPREAd OF HARBOUR TOWAgE

In the two years to March 2006 SMIT and its

subsidiaries and joint ventures placed firm

orders for a total of 80 vessels. SMIT itself

was responsible for 42 orders. Eighteen of

the remainder were accounted for by the

SMIT/Rebras combination, with KST (Keppel

SMIT Towage) and URS ordering another 12

and six vessels respectively.

During the six months to this March alone,

15 tugs were ordered from Damen. They con-

sisted of 13 2810 tugs (length 28 m) and two

3211 tugs (with an option for a further two).

These units will be delivered over the 2006

- early 2008 period. SMIT’s fleet renewal pro-

gramme continues to focus on the construc-

tion of standardised multirole vessels offering

a high degree of operational flexibility.

In Singapore, KST ordered a total of six tugs

from Keppel Singmarine over the past six

months. All are in the 45-65 tonnes bollard pull

range. All eleven are ASD tugs.

During the December 2005 - January 2006

period, SMIT also completed its acquisition of

50 per cent of the shares of Rebras in Brazil.

Orders for 18 new tugs for this operation were

placed with the Detroit Brazil yard. Twelve of

the units are 45 tonnes bollard pull tugs, based

on the Robert Allan 2500 series design. The

remaining six are 65 tonnes bollard pull units

- a Robert Allan 3000 design. The first of these

new tugs will be delivered early next year. The

last of the 18 will join the Rebras fleet in late

2008. All the tugs will be dedicated to work in

Brazilian waters.

The past six months also saw the delivery of

the ‘Smit Damietta’ and ‘Smit Port Said’. These

3030 firefighting tugs were purchased during

their construction in a Turkish yard. In addition,

a gravel barge and chip barge were delivered

for SMIT Canada.

Looking ahead, it is likely that SMIT and its

subsidiaries and joint ventures will order more

new tugs. In all probability, the orders will

involve around 20 vessels in the 60 - 80 tonnes

bollard pull range - for service at various loca-

tions around the world. There are also plans

to order more anchorhandlers in the 80 - 100

tonnes bollard pull class.

SMIT has already reached agreement to pur-

chase seven newly-built multipurpose work

vessels from Hadi H. Al-Hamman Est. of Saudi

Arabia. These vessels, of 75 tonnes bollard pull,

are a modified version of the ‘Smit Kamara’

and ‘Smit Komodo’. The first two vessels in the

series will join the fleet this year and the final

unit will be delivered in May 2008.

RAPId PROgRESS IN SMIT’S FLEET RENEWAL

The ‘Tiger Sun’ assisting a vessel in Canada.

The ‘Smit Clyde’ assisting one of the world’s biggest

containerships, the ‘Cosco Guangzhou’, in Rotterdam.

‘Smit Damietta’ and ‘Smit Port Said’

provide terminal assistances in Egypt.

31st March 2006 - Contract Signing2 x DAMEN ASD Tug 3211 + 9 x DAMEN ASD Tug 2810

SMIT Terminals has had encouraging results

over the past 12 months in its drive to win

new long-term contracts and extend the

scope of existing activities. The successes

include the Damietta LNG carrier assistance

contract in Egypt, a new offshore support

programme in Russian waters and a winning

tender in Equatorial Guinea, together with a

number of extensions, including the termi-

nal assistance contract in the Bahamas.

Loek Kullberg, SMIT Harbour Towage &

Terminals’ Managing Director, says: “We are

especially pleased at our successful bid for

vessel assistance work at the Damietta LNG

terminal. This is an important breakthrough in

Egypt. We look forward to working closely with

our Egyptian partners.

During September of last year SMIT was

awarded a contract from ExxonMobil concern-

ing the oil port of DeKastri, near Sakhalin. Loek

Kullberg says: “This contract is for five years,

with options for extension. The main task is

SPM support with a newbuild Damen 2208

ice class tug, which will be delivered in July/

August 2006. The contract will be serviced in

association with Femco, our Russian partners.

“We are already working on the north east

coast of Sakhalin with three icebreaking ves-

sels, the ‘Smit Sibu’,

‘Smit Sakhalin’ and

‘Talagy’. Their main role

is to assist tankers call-

ing at large offshore

loading terminals.”

SMIT’s successful

tender in Equatorial

Guinea requires two

newly built tugs. These

Damen-built 3211 units

are required to support

a Marathon LNG opera-

tion, which has British

Gas as the major ship-

ping client. The contract

duration is 10 years and the tugs begin work

in January 2007. Marathon is a long-standing

client, with SMIT providing a variety of marine

support services in West African waters.

Two Damen 3111 newbuildings were on their

way to Nigeria at the time of writing, to rein-

force the four tugs currently assisting vessels

calling at the NLNG Bonny Island terminal. The

‘Smit Diare’ and ‘Smit Owena’ left Rotterdam for

Bonny Island recently. This NLNG contract com-

menced in 1999.

Other recent successes in Nigeria include the

extension of the Melbourne Marine contract

for support of the FSO Jamestown, stationed

offshore Warri. The ‘Smit Siberia’ began this

assignment in early 2005.

The extensive SMIT newbuilding programme

also has consequences for the four-tug opera-

tion at Port Gentil’s oil export terminal. This

contract commenced in 1992. A Damen 3509

newbuilding is due to replace the chartered

tug ‘Ievoli Green’, now operating in Gabon

under this TotalFinaElf contract. The newbuild-

ing is a sister vessel to ‘Smit Mandji’, which

entered service in early 2005 and is currently

operating in Gabon. The new vessel is expected

to enter service at Port Gentil during the first

quarter of next year.

Loek Kullberg adds: “In the Bahamas we have

been active since 1997, assisting tankers and

providing barge-based bunkering services.

This contract requires three Japanese-built

tugs delivered during the early 1990s. In

January we succeeded in obtaining a con-

tract extension of three years from our client

BORCO. The intention is to replace two of the

existing vessels with the higher bollard pull

tugs ‘Smit Mississippi’ and ‘Smit Missouri’,

which will move to the Bahamas prior to March

2007.

“Looking ahead, we have some demanding

commercial targets to meet. Our teams con-

tinue to work vigorously on new tenders for

projects across the world, from Africa and the

Middle East to South America.

“We explore every possibility for viable long-

term terminal service contracts. As can be

seen from our achievements to date, the rapid

expansion of global LNG infrastructures is a big

factor in our future prospects. We will continue

to display great flexibility in devising solutions

meeting the exact needs of clients and pro-

spective clients.”

SMIT TERMINALS WINS NEW LONg-TERM CONTRACTS

Traffic levels at Rotterdam-Europoort con-

tinue to increase. The growth in vessel calls

over the past six months was spread over all

vessel types, from containerships and bulk

carriers to tankers carrying crude oil and

products.

Joost Lameijer, SMIT Harbour Towage General

Manager for Rotterdam, says: “We are now at

a very important stage in the development

of SMIT’s harbour towage services in the

Rotterdam-Europoort area. Positive factors,

including the increase in vessel calls and rea-

sonable rates for tug assistance, have allowed

us to operate profitably. This, in turn, has cre-

ated a favourable climate for investment in a

new generation of tugs.

“We expect to order a total of six newbuildings

over the next 12 months. Four of the six - 2810

ASD types - have already been ordered from

Damen. We expect to place orders for an addi-

tional two later this year or early in 2007. This

means the new tugs for Rotterdam service

will join the fleet in the mid 2007 - 2009 period.

Significantly, all the newbuildings will be

designed for two-man operation.”

The extent of fleet renewal investments

depends on further increases in traffic at

Rotterdam-Europoort. Under current projec-

tions (and assuming that the current steady

increase in vessel calls is sustained), SMIT

Harbour Towage will require a fleet of 15 - 17

tugs to meet demand at the Group’s home

port.

Joost Lameijer adds: “The priority is replace-

ment rather than enlargement of the

Rotterdam fleet. The current fleet totals 16

tugs. The units now being replaced are the

1800 types, conventional tugs built during the

late 1970s.

“SMIT Harbour Towage’s future at Rotterdam

does not depend exclusively on traffic

increases and new tugs. The human ele-

ment remains crucial to greater efficiency. We

already know the extent to which two-man

operation increases productivity and can alle-

viate the expected shortages in crews in the

forthcoming years. This will take time to intro-

duce, however, as this is a matter of training

and qualifications. In essence, we need both

individuals on board the tug to be capable of

assuming a Captain’s responsibilities.”

SMIT’s Rotterdam-Europoort tugs performed

a number of salvage tasks over the past six

months. They included the response to the

heavy lift vessel ‘Svanen’, which broke free of

her moorings during a vicious storm in late

November. The vessel began to drift and then

struck a drydock. Three tugs were mobilised;

they connected up and returned this vessel to

the berth.

An additional two salvage operations were

performed during early March of this year.

The first, on March 5, concerned the container

vessel ‘California Luna’. The vessel suffered

engine problems whilst off the New Waterway

and ’Smit Polen’ assisted.

Three days later the bulk carrier ‘Waterman N’

suffered a blackout when close to the Hook of

Holland breakwaters. Once again, ‘Smit Polen’

responded and towed the vessel to a safe

anchorage.

The first quarter of this year also saw four of

SMIT’s Rotterdam-Europoort tugs carry out a

rig move. The jack-up ‘Ensco 102’ was towed

from Europoort to Botlek Verolme for a mainte-

nance programme.

ROTTERdAM FLEET REPLACEMENT NOW UNdER WAY

The ‘Smit Clyde’ assisting a vessel in Europoort, Rotterdam.

The Nigerian crew members who sailed the ‘Smit Diare’ to Bonny Island.

The ‘Smit Diare’ demonstrating her fifi-equipment.

www.smit.com5

tug magazine

Captain Mike Skinner, Master of the termi-

nal tug ‘Pentow Service’, proudly accepted

the Corporate Vessel Survey Award pennant,

for outstanding performance, at a ceremony

in Durban on February 23rd.

The pennant was presented by SMIT Transport

& Heavy Lift Managing Director Abel Dutilh. He

offered his warmest congratulations to Captain

Skinner, his crew and shore-based personnel

closely involved in the operation of this vessel.

Their individual contributions were acknowl-

edged: they received special, hand-made

jerseys emblazoned with the text “Corporate

Vessel Survey Award 2005”.

The Corporate Vessel Survey Award is newly

introduced and will be presented each year to

the vessel with the best overall operational and

maintenance condition. SMIT’s SHE-Q General

Manager, Aart de Glopper, says: “The award is

made on the basis of vessel survey outcomes.

The operational and maintenance condition

during the year is expressed as a rating. In this

way, the top three vessels in the SMIT fleet

are identified. In 2005, these vessels were the

‘Pentow Service’, the Cape Town-based ocean-

going tug ‘Smit Amandla’ and, in addition, the

Vancouver harbour tug ‘Westminster Hunter’.

“All three vessels had a truly outstanding

record in 2005. It fell to SMIT’s Chief Executive,

Ben Vree, to make the difficult choice. After

due consideration, he named ‘Pentow Service’

as the winner in his New Year’s message to the

Group. This vessel may now fly the coveted

pennant throughout 2006.”

Tributes to the crew of ‘Pentow Service’ were

expressed by Abel Dutilh, together with

Vessel Manager Sean Raath, Corporate Vessel

Surveyor Cor Fontaine and Captain George

Franklin, representing the clients, SAPREF.

Captain Skinner replied on behalf of his crew.

Aart de Glopper adds: “The Corporate Vessel

Survey Award was introduced in 2005. Our

Corporate Vessel Surveyor regularly visits

units in the fleet of over 500 vessels operated

by SMIT and its associated companies and

joint ventures. The Vessel Surveyor applies a

checklist-based audit system. The results are

reported quarterly to SMIT’s Executive Board

and the Division Managing Directors. This

system provides for effective follow-up, where

remedial action is required. The idea behind

this award is to acknowledge positive achieve-

ment within the fleet. Flying that pennant is a

genuine mark of excellence.”

‘PENTOW SERvICE’ FLIES vESSEL SURvEY AWARd PENNANT

Newbuild tugs ‘Smit Port Said’ and ‘Smit

Damietta’ have commenced a long-term

contract in Egypt, assisting large LNG

carriers calling at the Damietta terminal.

This LNG terminal came on stream in 2004.

It is situated on the north bank of the Suez

Canal, around 60km west of Port Said. Its

initial production rate is 5.5 million t/yr.

The vessel assistance project was awarded

to a joint venture with a few local partners

amongst which the Damietta Port Authority.

The contract was awarded by shippers calling

at the SEGAS terminal, which is owned and

operated by SEGAS (Spanish Egyptian Gas

Company)- 80% owned by Union Fenosa GAS,

10% by EGAS and 10% by EGPC.

EGAS signed agreements with BP and BG to process gas from their operated fields, through EGAS’

share of capacity at the LNG facility and then to lift the produced LNG. The two tugs began working

at Damietta in December, under a contract with a duration of two years with possible extensions.

The new tugs are both Robert Allan designs. They are broadly similar to Damen’s 3111 tugs. These

RA 3060 units were constructed by Uzmar Shipping of Istanbul. They were purchased by SMIT as

they were nearing completion. These tugs have a length of 30.25 m a bollard pull of 62 tonnes.

They have tanks accommodating 177 cu m of fuel oil, 27 cu m of freshwater and 8 cu m of foam.

There is also capacity for some 35 cu m of recovered oil.

SMIT was already very active in Egypt prior to the commencement of the Damietta contract. The

newbuild anchorhandler ‘Smit Komodo’, for example, recently commenced a six-month assign-

ment for the support of Egyptian offshore oil and gas installations.

Terminals Division Managing Director Loek Kullberg says: “Damietta represents a significant break-

through for SMIT in Egypt. It is not easy to secure a first terminal support contract in any market!

This contract was awarded in recognition of the quality of the combination with our partners. We

look forward to developing activities in Egypt in association with our partners.”

NEW TUgS COMMENCE LONg-TERM CONTRACT IN EgYPT

The ‘Smit Port Said’ assisting the ‘Galica Spirit’ in Damietta, Egypt.

Harbour Towage Division Managing Director

Loek Kullberg and Vessel Surveyor Cor Fontaine

present the Corporate Survey Award pennant.

The crew of the award-winning ‘Pentow Service’ in Cape Town.

Many salvage operations were undertaken

during the first three months of this year.

Work also continued on wreck and debris

clearance in the US Gulf following the dev-

astation of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

During this period work also continued on

the preparation of tenders for a number of

substantial wreck removal projects around

the world.

Salvage operations during the first quarter of

2006 included the February 4th response to the

LNG carrier ‘Höegh Gandria’, which required

assistance whilst off Singapore, after flooding

in the engineroom. A salvage team from SMIT’s

Singapore base soon reached this casualty.

They dewatered the engineroom and carried

out a programme of machinery preservation.

The ‘Höegh Gandria’ was discharged and was

then taken to a repair yard. Salvage services

concluded on February 14th, bringing to an end

an operation which was rare in the sense that

very few LNG carriers feature in the salvage

track record.

SMIT Salvage also responded when the fully

laden 158,000 DWT crude carrier ‘Kim Jacob’

grounded on January 30th on a sandbank at

Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela, whilst proceeding

to the US port of St. Croix for discharge. This

was a significant operation as very few casualty

salvage tasks today now involve large laden

tankers.

The vessel sustained some hull damage but

there was no leakage. SMIT Salvage obtained

a Lloyd’s Form contract to refloat the casualty.

This required the ship-to-ship transfer of some

22,000 tonnes of Venezuelan heavy crude.

The salvage team achieved a refloating on

February 6th. ‘Kim Jacob’ was taken to a safe

anchorage, where a full inspection took place.

Subsequently, the balance of the tanker’s

cargo was transferred to the lightering vessel

‘Endless’. The latter then delivered the cargo to

St. Croix.

First quarter operations also included the

response to the January 27th collision between

the 23,701 DWT bulk carrier ‘Twin Star’, laden

with steel coils, and the Cypriot vessel ‘Pintail’.

The accident occurred in dense fog conditions

at a position off the port of Callao, Peru. A third

vessel, the ‘Alice’, was also involved but sus-

tained no damage.

The ‘Twin Star’, however, was severely mauled.

She began to sink and eventually broke in

two, leaving only her antenna above water. A

number of fuel tanks ruptured, causing local-

ised pollution. SMIT Salvage was contracted by

the P&I Club to remove the remaining bunkers

and other pollutants.

All fuel oil, a total of 250 tonnes, was recov-

ered. The remains of this vessel, meanwhile,

have almost completely settled into the soft

ooze of the wreck site. A decision on a wreck

removal has yet to be taken.

Work continued into the New Year at La Spezia,

Italy, following the sinking of the vessel

‘Margaret’ off the breakwater on December 3rd.

A SMIT salvage team carried out a diving

survey. Subsequently, a contract was awarded

for the removal of some 90 tonnes of oil from

the wreck’s double bottom tanks. This task was

performed by means of a pollution-free hot-

tap system, used to penetrate each tank at two

locations - an upper station for pumping to the

surface and a lower station allowing seawater

to enter the space, to replace the oil recov-

ered from the tank. The oil recovery operation

was completed on January 7th, with the team

having pumped all the bunkers to a receiving

barge.

An accident in August of last year resulted

in a major salvage operation which was still

in progress at the end of the third quarter.

The complex project to refloat and recover

the sunken vessel ‘Michelle’ arose following a

collision off the Dutch coast with the vessel

‘Kiefernwald’. The latter was able to continue

her voyage to Cuxhaven. The ‘Michelle’, how-

ever, was left in a part-submerged condition,

within a busy traffic zone.

There was some outflow of bunkers from the

‘Michelle’ immediately after the collision. The

remaining oil was subsequently removed. The

cargo of coal posed no threat to the environ-

ment. The Directorate-General for Public Works

and Water Management ordered that the casu-

alty should be taken to a safe position outside

the main traffic lanes. The ‘Michelle’ eventually

sank at a position around 100 km north-west

of Den Helder.

SMIT’s team began salvage operations on

December 8th. A diving survey was performed

and a plan devised for the recovery. This was

based on an “upside-down” refloating by pres-

surisation, a tow to Rotterdam and righting

with the assistance of a floating sheerlegs. The

‘Michelle’ could then be towed to a breakers’

yard.

This operation is to be undertaken by the float-

ing sheerlegs ‘Taklift 7’, which arrived from the

Baltic during April. The sheerlegs will begin

work off Den Helder in June. One challenge

to be faced by the salvage team is the com-

prehensive filling of this wreck by sand. This

sand has to be pumped from inter-

nal spaces, in order to lighten the

vessel.

Salvage operations performed

worldwide in the final quarter of

2005 included the refloating of the

container vessel ‘SITC Bangkok’,

which ran aground on Depond

Reef, Cambodia, during November.

This vessel had 530 containers on

board.

The grounding site was hit by bad

weather. Several of her ballast

tanks and two fuel tanks ruptured,

causing some local pollution. The

vessel’s owners contracted SMIT

Salvage on LOF 2000 terms. The

8,200 bhp tug ‘Pacific Champion’ was mobilised

and work began to minimise the environmen-

tal impact of this accident.

The offshore workbarge ‘Smit Ibis’ arrived on

site and work began to discharge a total of 168

containers. These containers were transferred

via the ‘Smit Ibis’ to the vessel ‘Korfoer’. The

tug then succeeded in refloating the vessel,

following lightering, dewatering and pres-

surisation of the damaged tanks. Further tem-

porary repairs were then carried out and ‘SITC

Bangkok’ was redelivered at Ho Chi Minh City,

Vietnam, in early December.

Operations last October included the suc-

cessful refloating of the 53,000 DWT bulk

carrier ‘Bulgaria’, laden with a cargo of soya

beans. This vessel grounded in the Amazon

on October 7th. A Salvage Officer/Naval

Architect was mobilised from Belem, Brazil

and he was reinforced by a Salvage Master

from Rotterdam. SMIT’s Brazilian partners

contributed two tugs. The casualty’s bunkers

were removed as preparations for the refloat-

ing progressed. The vessel was pulled free on

October 10th.

Meanwhile, SMIT salvage teams were engaged

in the major response to the devastation

caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the

US Gulf. Rita came hard on the heels of Katrina

and SMIT Salvage provided assistance for two

jack-up rigs, the ‘Adriatic VII’ and the ‘High

Island III’. The rigs suffered significant damage

and these operations continued into the New

Year. In both cases the scope of work involved

the removal of fuel and drilling mud, ballast-

ing down, removal of the remnants of the legs,

deballasting and refloating. November saw the

commencement of another such assignment,

involving the jack-up rig ‘High Island II’.

During November, SMIT Salvage completed

two major wreck removals, both in the Far East.

On November 1st the final section of the wreck

of the ‘Everise Glory’ was landed on a barge.

Work had begun in August.

This 23,000 DWT bulk carrier was lost close

to the Malaysian/Singaporean boundary. The

large floating sheerlegs ‘Asian Hercules II’ and

the diving/work platform ‘Smit Ibis’ were mobi-

lised for this operation. This wreck was cut into

three sections, each with a weight of around

2,000 tonnes.

On November 11th the last section of the wreck

of the cruise vessel ‘Royal Pacific’ was cleared

at the Korean port of Kaohsiung. ‘Royal Pacific’

capsized in July of last year - fortunately with

no loss of life. In August SMIT was contracted

for the wreck removal, involving the 1,000

tonnes lift capacity sheerlegs ‘Smit Cyclone’.

This wreck was cut into nine sections.

gLOBAL SPREAd OF SMIT’S SALvAgE OPERATIONS

The severely damaged bulk carrier

‘Twin Star’ collided with a Cypriot vessel.

Container carrier ‘SITC Bangkok’ ran aground in Cambodia.

www.smit.com�

tug magazine

SMIT’s role in assisting the efforts to recover

from the devastating effects of hurricanes

Katrina and Rita were reported in the last

issue of Tug Magazine. This extensive pro-

gramme of work continued into the first

quarter of 2006.

SMIT Salvage Director Hans van Rooij says:

“Perhaps 3,000 vessels of all sizes became

casualties to some degree in the wake of

these disastrous storms. Much of our work has

focused on the damaged offshore oil and gas

infrastructure in the US Gulf.

“Many platforms and rigs were ripped away

from their legs by the violent winds and 20ft

storm surge. Some were driven ashore. Others

were secured and taken to safe locations for

inspection and repair, or to scrapyards. We

refloated a number of rigs in the final quarter

of last year. Many of these operations were

challenging, with extensive patching required,

together with complex stability calculations

and the removal of broken leg sections, in

some cases fouling the wrecks. The remains of

many legs in the seabed had to be removed in

order to free the wells.

SMIT mobilised two large floating sheerlegs

to tackle these assignments. The 1,000 tonnes

‘Smit Cyclone’ arrived in the US Gulf from

Singapore. In addition, ‘Taklift 1’ was mobilised

from Venezuela. Some broken leg sections

had to be removed from water depths of up

to 150 m. A technique was developed which

involved breaking into lines and injecting air

and water, to put pressure on the spud cans, so

helping to break the powerful suction forces.

The tasks dealt with by SMIT’s teams in the first

quarter of 2006 included engineering prepara-

tions for the operation to recover the tension

leg platform (TLP) ‘Typhoon’. This installation,

with a length of 100 m, capsized when struck

by the hurricane. This TLP is now sitting on its

accommodation, in some 100 m of water, with

its floats still above the surface.

SMIT Salvage’s Commercial Director Geert

Koffeman says: “This project requires some

complex engineering. The preparations on site

began with test drilling, to check pressures

in a range of tanks. The TLP will be refloated

and righted by a combination of techniques

- mainly pressurisation.”

New Year’s Day saw the completion of one of

SMIT’s major rig salvage operations - with the

three-leg jack-up ‘High Island ll’ returned to a

normal operating environment by an innova-

tive recovery method.

This work began in early November. The

project was the fourth rig salvage undertaken

by SMIT in the aftermath of Katrina and Rita.

The jack-up had been hit hard. The legs were

misaligned and the main deck had a trim dif-

ferential of 5 deg. To aggravate matters, ‘High

Island ll’ was close to a Chevron production

platform. Furthermore, the extensive work

programme had to be carried out in Winter

conditions.

SMIT’s brief was to provide and install a pull-

barge on location with a capacity to exert a

pull-force of 1,200 tonnes to the rig. This was

the first use of the pull-barge method. There

were many advantages: lower costs, no further

damage to the rig and the opportunity for

a timely resumption of the jack-up’s drilling

programme.

The main operation commenced on December

30th , when pressure on the bow leg was

achieved. All legs were then correctly aligned

and the rig was then free to commence a

normal jack-down.

Zero cost OPA 90 coverDonjon-SMIT has now announced a new

arrangement providing free cover for salvage,

firefighting and lightering under the US Oil

Pollution Act 1990 (OPA 90).

Donjon-SMIT’s Commercial Manager, Dick

Fredricks, says: “We are very pleased to offer

this no cost standby coverage to our clients

and prospective customers.”

Most OPA 90 emergency service providers

charge fees for this coverage, especially for

tank vessels. Donjon-SMIT now offers free

standby coverage for all ship types - both tank

vessels and non-tank vessels.

The joint venture Donjon-SMIT was estab-

lished in 2004 by New Jersey-based Donjon

Marine Co, Inc and Texas-based SMIT Salvage

Americas, with the specific purpose of provid-

ing OPA 90 compliance services.

KATRINA/RITA: WORK CONTINUES TO SPEEd RECOvERY

A salvage team sets foot on the capsized TLP ‘Typhoon’.

SMIT Salvage aligned the legs of jack-up rig

‘High Island II’ by use of the pull-barge method.

SMIT’s preparations are well advanced

for the establishment of a joint venture in

Kazakhstan to offer a wide range of trans-

port and associated services to the coun-

try’s rapidly expanding oil and gas sector.

Abel Dutilh, Managing Director of SMIT

Transport & Heavy Lift, says: “The prospects

in this market are very lively and we need the

structure in place to make the most of promis-

ing opportunities. The key factor here is the

development of the Caspian’s extensive hydro-

carbon reserves. The Caspian is said to hold the

world’s second largest reserves of oil and gas.”

“We are already responding to requests for ten-

ders in Kazakhstan. The immediate prospects

centre on the provision of small to medium ice

class tugs and ice-strengthened barges.”

The division is making a growing contribu-

tion to SMIT’s drive for greater income stabil-

ity. In the transport sector, for example, the

introduction into service of the three Keppel

Singmarine-built vessels ‘Smit Kamara’, ‘Smit

Nicobar’ and ‘Smit Komodo’ will open up new

prospects for long-term employment.

‘Smit Kamara’, one of this new class offshore

support, anchorhandling and towing vessels,

is already working under a long-term charter

to the Shell UK/NAM partnership in the North

Sea.

‘Smit Kamara’ features an

innovative Offshore Access

System, a special access

bridge allowing maintenance

crews to transfer safely to

platforms in the southern

North Sea. ‘Smit Kamara’

commenced this charter

on January 1st. The vessel is

based at Den Helder when

operating on the Dutch Shelf

and out of Lowestoft when

working in the UK sector.

Abel Dutilh adds: “The con-

cept here is the provision of a

cost-effective and safe alter-

native to helicopter transpor-

tation of maintenance crews.

The ‘Smit Kamara’ and her

Offshore Access System offers

an attractive alternative.”

Meanwhile, ‘Smit Komodo’

commenced a two-year plus

one contract with Petrobel,

Egypt, during February of this year. The vessel

is working in the anchorhandling, towage and

supply role, supporting a number of offshore

production installations.

In addition, ‘Smit Nicobar’ will commence

an initial six-month contract with Consafe in

June - immediately upon her delivery from

Singapore. The task is to support offshore facil-

ities in the waters off Sakhalin. Consafe’s client

is Sakhalin Energy Investment Co.

A new phase of fleet expansion was marked by

the acquisition of seven new multipurpose

work vessels. These newbuildings, in the 75

tonnes bollard pull class, are of the ‘Smit

Kamara’/’Smit Komodo’ type and were pur-

chased from Hadi H. Al-Hamman Est of Saudi

Arabia. Two of the vessels will join the fleet this

year. The remainder will follow in the period to

May 2008. Three of the newbuilds have already

secured long-term offshore employment, for

Saudi Aramco in Saudi waters, through Hadi H.

Al-Hamman Est.

In the heavy lift sector, the fleet restructur-

ing process has been completed. The smaller

floating sheerlegs ‘Ajax’ and ‘Taklift 3’ have

been sold. ‘Taklift 1’ was also earmarked for

sale but action on this front has been deferred.

This sheerlegs found profitable employment

in Venezuela and will be redeployed subse-

quently to the Gulf of Mexico to participate in

a range of salvage-related projects associated

with clearance work following the 2005 hur-

ricanes. It appears likely that ‘Taklift 1’ will con-

tinue in service with SMIT Transport &Heavy

Lift for at least another year.

Abel Dutilh concludes: “Non-performing assets

in the Transport & Heavy Lift fleet have now

been sold. We are now on the verge of embark-

ing on a newbuilding programme. The main

aim is fleet replacement but there is also scope

for gradual expansion, with the focus on long

term employment opportunities.”

SMIT’s 1,200 tonnes sheerlegs ‘Taklift 7’ completed a major German

bridge building programme during April. The crane had spent

several months at the new Stralsund Bridge, on the German Baltic

coast. This suspension bridge links the mainland with the island of

Rügen.

‘Taklift 7’s recent career has focused on bridge projects, including a long

series of heavy lifts for the Rion-Antirion Bridge in Greece. In the case of

Stralsund, the sheerlegs lifted a total of 13 pylon sections and 16 bridge

sections, with maximum weights in the 800 tonnes range.

The lifting programme was completed successfully despite heavy ice

and prolonged periods of poor weather.

‘Taklift 7’ made a valuable contribution to the construction of this

box girder road bridge, which allows the B96 city bypass to cross the

Greifswalder Chaussee. Construction of the four-lane Stralsund bypass

began in 1997. The new bypass had reached the ferry check-in area at

Sassnitz Port by the following year.

The construction of the highest section of the Stralsund Bridge involved

the lift and positioning of the top unit of a 127 m pylon, with a weight of

84 tonnes. ‘Taklift 7’ employed its 175 m long boom for this task.

On completion of the Stralsund project, ‘Taklift 7’ will proceed to

Rotterdam to carry out a number of assignments in the area. During its

demobilization from Stralsund to Rotterdam, it will launch the hull of MV

Magnus at Mützelfeldtwerft in Cuxhaven. Assignments in the Rotterdam

area include participation in the Michelle wreck removal operation. Later

this year the sheerlegs will lift into position the living quarters for the

‘Terra Nova’ FPSO at Keppel Verolme, Rotterdam. This project involves

two contracts. The first calls for the transport of the accommodation

module from Newfoundland. ‘Smit Anambas’ and a large barge will be

deployed for this assignment. Later in July, ‘Taklift 7’ together with the

‘Matador 3’ will lift the living quarters into place.

During August ‘Taklift 7’ will proceed to Rouen, where the

sheerlegs will resume its bridge-building duties. The Rouen

bridge forms part of a scheme to reduce city traffic conges-

tion. The main lifts involve two bridge sections with maxi-

mum dimensions of 80 m and 120 m, together with various

other elements. The sheerlegs will be rigged with the long

boom for some of the lifts.

Elsewhere in the world, SMIT’s sheerlegs remain busy in

Brazil. ‘Taklift 4’ is in the Rio area, lifting modules for the

‘P52’ FPSO at Keppel Fels. This 1,600 tonnes sheerlegs

arrived in Brazil during late January and will stay in the

area until June. At that point the ‘P52’ heavy lift work pro-

gramme will have been completed. It is likely that ‘Taklift

4’ will then mobilise to the Gulf of Mexico to join the long-

running wreck and debris clearance programmes still under

way following the devastating hurricanes of last year.

‘Taklift 6’, with a 1,200 tonnes lift capacity, has been based

in Brazil for some years. This sheerlegs has provided heavy

lift support for a number of FPSO projects, including

Barracuda/Caratinga. ‘Taklift 6’ is also involved in the ‘P52’

project at BrasFels’ Angra Dos Reis integration yard. FPSO-

related work is likely to keep ‘Taklift 6’ in the area for the

foreseeable future.

‘Taklift 1’, with a lift capacity of 800 tonnes, has been lifting

modules for offshore fabricators Jantesa. This work is under

way in the Maracaibo area, Venezuela. The sheerlegs is lift-

ing modules requiring refurbishment. During August the

crane will reinstall these modules. During the intervening

months, ‘Taklift 1’ will proceed to the US Gulf, to assist in the

Katrina/Rita clearance programmes.

SHEERLEgS ‘TAKLIFT �’ COMPLETESgERMAN BRIdgE ASSIgNMENT

PREPARINg TO SUPPORT CASPIAN OIL ANd gAS dEvELOPMENTS

Positioning of steel pylon sections of

the Stralsund bridge by the ‘Taklift 7’.

www.smit.com9

tug magazine

SMIT’s three Giant class 24,000 DWT barges

continue to find plentiful employment in

the global heavy transportation market.

Giant 2, for example, has been busy with

a programme of voyages in support of a

major project extending the Alcan alu-

minium refinery at Gove, east of Darwin,

Australia.

Fresh from last year’s drydocking at Batam,

‘Giant 2’s scope of work provides for a total

of five voyages carrying project cargo for the

‘Gove’ project. These cargoes have been loaded

at a variety of fabricators in Malaysia and

Thailand. The final voyage in this series was

completed mid-May.

‘Giant 2’ is earmarked for a fresh assignment

upon completion of the ‘Gove’ project, when

it commences a contract for van Oord to sup-

port oil and gas construction projects off

Sakhalin, Russia. Sister barge ‘Giant 3’ has been

busy at Sakhalin since last year, transporting

dredging equipment for van Oord and per-

forming numerous stone transportation voy-

ages. Projects concerning the huge Sakhalin

oil and gas development

programme will provide

continuous employment

for both ‘Giant 2’ and ‘Giant

3’ until at least the end of

this year.

‘Giant 4’, meanwhile, continues to operate

in the north west European region. Recent

assignments for this barge include the trans-

portation of river barges from Rotterdam to

Fos, France. The vessel then loaded more river

barges at Fos, for transport to Le Havre.

‘Giant 4’ is due to commence a charter

for Heerema next month (June). This

concerns the ‘De Ruyter’ oil and gas

project on the Dutch Shelf. The scope

of work here focuses on the transport

of heavy elements for the ‘De Ruyter’

Gravity Base Structure.

Meanwhile ‘Smit Anambas’ activities in

the first quarter of this year included

the move of a 4,000 tonnes, four-leg

jack-up from Piraeus to Rotterdam.

The vessel then proceeded to Norway

for the transport of substructures on

behalf of TP Shipping. The voyages

involve a variety of load and discharge loca-

tions in Norway. On completion of this work

programme in early May, ‘Smit Anambas’ pro-

ceeded to St. John’s, Newfoundland, to load a

700 tonnes accommodation module, for KBR/

Petro-Canada.

In addition, the DSV ‘Smit Orca’ continues to

operate offshore West Africa. The vessel is

engaged in a wide range of subsea mainte-

nance and repair activities for offshore oil and

gas installations. The ‘Smit Orca’ is frequently

hired by various offshore companies, such as

Perenco, Total Technique, Agip, SHELL, Acergy

(previously Stolt Offshore) and as diving plat-

form and accommodation vessel.

‘gIANT 2’ COMPLETES ALCANTRANSPORT PROgRAMME

SMIT Transport is now engaged in a major

project concerning the construction of a

large windfarm complex at IJmuiden, in the

Netherlands. This is the country’s largest

windfarm project to date.

The development requires the fabrication,

transport and installation of a series of 36

large wind turbines, each rated at 3.6 mW. This

power generation scheme is being developed

by Shell Nuon. Ballast Nedam, SMIT Transport’s

client, has the main contract - a turnkey agree-

ment - for the fabrication, installation and

commissioning of the complex.

SMIT’s contract includes the transport of 36

transition pieces and monopiles from the fab-

rication yard in Aalborg, Denmark, to the loca-

tion off IJmuiden. This requires the mobilisa-

tion of a 40 tonnes bollard pull tug and three

flat-top barges (‘E3801’, ‘E3004’ and ‘E3001’).

These barges were selected as they can be

manoeuvred, in the laden condition, inside the

docking station of the Ballast Nedam heavy lift

vessel ‘Svanen’ - which is responsible for lifting

and positioning the heavy units taking the tur-

bines, following pile-driving.

SMIT Transport’s project team is

also responsible for the design,

fabrication and installation of

innovative hinged sea-fasten-

ings, which can be re-used for

each transport, throughout the

contract period, without cutting

and welding.

The transports began

in early March and

will continue until July. Each voyage

from Aalborg to IJmuiden takes three

days. The programme is organised to

ensure that one barge is loading, one

is discharging and one is en route at

all times. SMIT’s scope of work also

includes ballasting during load-out

operations.

The second section of the SMIT con-

tract provides for the services of three

shallow draft anchorhandlers. These

units are required for anchorhandling

support for the heavy lift vessel

‘Svanen’. The latter operates within a

pre-laid eight-point mooring system.

The individual anchors have weights of up to

12.5 tonnes.

The units deployed for this work programme

are the anchorhandlers ‘Smit Bever’ and ‘Smit

Bronco’ (a 25.4 m newbuild with a 28 tonnes

bollard pull). ‘Smit Bronco’ represents the first

of a new class of three tugs. The second and

third vessels are ‘Smit Barracuda’ and ‘Smit

Bison’.

In addition, the 1,800 hp tractor tug ‘Eerland

26’ is working off IJmuiden, manoeuvring the

barges at the windfarm construction site.

SMIT’S LEAd ROLE IN WINdFARM PROjECT

The ‘Giant 2’ transporting

cargo for the ‘Gove’ project.

Heavy lift vessel ‘Svanen’ and anchorhandling

tug ‘Smit Bever’ off IJmuiden.

SMIT Marine Projects has just completed

major assignments associated with the ‘De

Ruyter’ field development - a new oil and

gas field, on the Dutch Shelf some 30 NM

off The Hague. The field developer is Petro-

Canada. SMIT Marine Projects won two con-

tracts involving the ‘De Ruyter’ field devel-

opment, relating to the offshore production

facility and the mooring system for shuttle

tankers loading in the field.

One contract was with Heerema, fabricators

for the production facility GBS (Gravity Base

Structure). This contract was awarded in March

2006 but preparations began in September

2005. The GBS installation started in April and

was completed in early May.

The GBS was constructed in Dubai. Heerema’s

yards in the Netherlands will complete the

offshore structure: the lattice is provided

by Heerema Flushing and the company’s

Zwijndrecht yard is responsible for the topside

(Integrated Production Deck), which is to be

installed in June.

In addition, SMIT Marine Projects received

a contract from GB Diving concerning the

‘De Ruyter’ TMLS (Tanker Mooring Loading

System). The TMLS was designed by APL of

Norway, constructed by Bladt in Denmark and

installed during May by SMIT.

The ‘De Ruyter’ Field has two main pipelines.

The oil pipeline runs from the GBS to the TMLS

(shuttle tanker loading system). In addition,

a gas export line connects the GBS to the

Wintershall platform east of the ‘De Ruyter’

field, and then on to the shore.

Sander Korte, SMIT’s General Manager for

Marine Projects, says: “We carried out the

GBS work programme in a joint venture with

Boskalis. Our scope of work included pre-

installation preparations ashore, followed by

the towout to location and installation. The

latter phase included fine positioning and bal-

lasting onto the seabed and the pumping of a

grout layer beneath the GBS. Boskalis dredged

the GBS’ reception pit and then started the

rock protection works on Sunday May 7th.

“Preparations ashore included rigging for the

tow and the installation of survey equipment,

suction pumps and umbilicals. The towout to

location was performed in early

April, during a period of welcome

good weather. Two tugs were

mobilised for this operation. Once

on location two more tugs arrived.

All four tugs were then connected

for the next phase and manoeu-

vred the GBS into a pre-laid moor-

ing system. With fine positioning

achieved, the 80 m by 70 m GBS

was then ballasted down into the

dredged reception pit. Grouting

began when the GBS’ skirts had

fully penetrated the seabed. The

grout filled the void space beneath

the structure. The GBS installation

was completed by the first week

of May.”

SMIT’s De Ruyter project team then focused on

the TMLS. This unit was transported from the

Bladt Fabrication Yard, Aalborg, by the ‘E1704’ -

towed by the URS tug ‘Boxer’. This voyage took

three days. The TMLS/barge combination was

berthed in the Waalhaven, Rotterdam, where

the structure was prepared and rigged for

installation. This included the assembly of the

loading hose, the mooring arrangement and

the installation rigging of the TMLS.

The TMLS structure has an arrangement for

loading shuttle tankers by means of a flex-

ible hose submerged at the surface. A shuttle

tanker arriving in the field picks up the loading

hose (with a pick up arrangement connected

to the loading hose). This proven method is

used with success by the (Veba) Hanse F2 plat-

form, also on the Dutch Shelf, recently taken

over by Petro-Canada.

The ‘De Ruyter’ TMLS has four large suction

cans, a deck incorporating a central swivel and

a hose connection unit. Installation involves

penetration of the seabed to the full, 8 m

height of the suction cans. This operation was

scheduled for completion by mid-May. First

oil and gas from ‘De Ruyter’ is expected in late

2006.

During April, SMIT Marine Projects completed

the decommissioning of the remains of a

former oil export terminal in Angola. This proj-

ect, for Total E&P Angola, was undertaken with

SMIT’s Angolan subsidiary, OCTOMAR.

The Diving Support Vessel ‘Smit Orca’ was

mobilised for the removal of two offshore

steel towers. The SMIT team on site, including

a large group of divers from SMIT Terminals

West Africa, also flushed the Cabeça Da Cobra

and Soyo terminals’ lines. Sander Korte says:

“The two towers were cut into sections and

delivered to a scrapping facility in the Soyo

area. The specification for the Angolan project

placed much emphasis on protection of the

environment. The integrity of the lines was

known to be poor and flushing, of course, does

require pressurisation. With these factors in

mind, the flushing was carried out successfully,

with minimal release of oil”.

INSTALLATION COMPLETEd FORdE RUYTER FIELd STRUCTURES

The ‘Taklift 7’ with TMLS in Waalhaven, Rotterdam just

before transport to the ‘De Ruyter’ field in the North Sea.

The ‘Smit Orca’ with a tower section in West Africa.

www.smit.com11

tug magazine

Recognising the South African

Government’s desire to trans-

form the country, SMIT has

proactively addressed issues of

transformation in their South

African operations since invest-

ing there in 1999. In November

2005 a multi-million rand Black

Economic Empowerment trans-

action was finalised, following

successful negotiations between

African Maritime Investment

Holdings (Pty) Ltd, a 100% sub-

sidiary of MION Holdings (Pty)

Ltd, and SMIT Internationale NV.

A key driver in the transaction’s successful

conclusion was the commitment displayed

by both the new black shareholders, African

Maritime Investments Holdings, and SMIT in

their quest to create a company that compre-

hensively addresses the critical issue of Black

Economic Empowerment. This is not only a

matter of ownership but, just as importantly,

the progress of black management, employ-

ment equity, skills development, preferential

procurement, new enterprise initiatives and

corporate social investment.

SMIT Chief Executive Officer Ben Vree says:

“This new company reaffirms our commit-

ment to South Africa and its empowerment

objectives, as well as to the core principles of

broad-based Black Economic Empowerment. It

also meets SMIT’s broader strategic objectives,

to develop partnerships in all major maritime

centres where we operate”.

Under the transaction, the majority of SMIT’s

South African business activities and con-

tracts was acquired by SMIT Amandla Marine,

with SMIT retaining 70% of the ownership of

this company. African Maritime Investment

Holdings has acquired 18% of SMIT Amandla

Marine. In addition, the SMIT Amandla Marine

Employee Trust - the beneficiaries of whom are

the employees of SMIT Amandla Marine (74%

of whom are black) - holds 12 % ownership.

This means that over 550 South Africans will

have a direct interest in the company.

To the sound of an African drum beat, South

African Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe intro-

duced SMIT Amandla Marine to the South

African maritime industry on November 15

2005. The formal launch event was held in

Cape Town.

Addressing the audience, Minister Radebe said:

“The initiative by SMIT Internationale enhances

the participation of the previously marginal-

ized groups in the economy of this country. I

am confident that the successful implementa-

tion of the vision of SMIT Amandla Marine will

not only meet the objectives of broad-based

Black Economic Empowerment but will con-

tribute significantly to the overall develop-

mental objectives of our government. SMIT

Amandla Marine has set an example of what

can be achieved when South Africans work

together in making sure that this country is a

better place for all people who live in it.”

SMIT Amandla Marine’s chairperson is

Manana Nhlanhla. Commenting on the

course she has set for the organisation,

Manana says: “Our strategic objectives

focus on three areas: sustainability, trans-

formation and growth.

“I need to ensure that our strategy is fol-

lowed and that performance is monitored. In

addition, our Black Economic Empowerment

agenda needs to be met in terms of training,

identifying new black managers and meeting

the scorecard in terms of preferential procure-

ment. I also need, however, to ensure there is

growth. Even if all scorecard criteria are met,

we cannot move forward without growth.”

SMIT Amandla Marine’s track record spans

some three decades. It now operates a fleet

of 21 owned or managed vessels. Managing

Director Paul Maclons says: “We operate in

a highly competitive environment and our

people are the most important contributors

to success”. Our clients expect and receive

world class operational and safety standards.

Following the finalisation of our empower-

ment transaction in late 2005, we are geared

for growth and are excited about future pros-

pects”.

SMIT Amandla Marine’s clients range from

private sector to government, including

PetroSA and its offshore support activities

and the National Department of Transport,

with its national pollution prevention func-

tion. The company also has long term service

relationships with De Beers Marine and local

oil companies. In addition, it provides vessel

management services for the Department

of Environmental Affairs & Tourism’s fleet of

supply vessels and fisheries research/patrol

fleet. The organisation also represents a criti-

cal link between consistent fuel supply and the

country’s economy, through involvement in

the management of offshore tanker termi-

nals for PetroSA and SAPREF and the provi-

sion of in-port bunker delivery services for

ships calling at Durban and Richards Bay.

Caring for the marine environment SMIT holds a contract with the South African

Department of Transport for the provision

of standby salvage services. The tug ‘Smit

Amandla’ is in the frontline of the country’s

protective measures against pollution. In fact,

South Africa was the first country in the world

to enter into such an agreement with private

industry, back in the 1970s. SMIT Amandla

Marine recently played host to a two-day

‘Marine Emergency Response’ workshop in

February which focused on providing more

insight into the business of salvage, communi-

cation, planning and response.

Bringing the Moquini homeThe disappearance of the yacht Moquini in

2005, during the Mauritius to Durban yacht

race, was a tragic event that made head-

lines around South Africa and elsewhere in

the world. The fate of the six crew members

was unknown. In early February reports of a

capsized yacht were received by the Marine

Rescue Co-ordination Centre and the South

African Maritime Safety Authority requested

‘Smit Amandla’ to proceed to a position some

500 miles off East London and investigate.

The yacht was located and confirmed as the

Moquini. The vessel was righted and towed to

Durban, where the families of the six missing

crew members could attain a degree of closure.

Making history in service to clientSix vessels on charter to one client at one

time is no mean feat, but this achievement

was celebrated by SMIT Amandla Marine in

January. The SMIT Amandla Marine team at the

EB-T offshore field began the first ship-to-ship

transfer for client PetroSA on January 31. The

operation involved the tankers Knock Dee and

Nordic Laurita. The three-day STS involved the

‘Pentow Skua’, ‘SMIT Lloyd 33’ and the ‘Kuswag

IV’. A second STS followed in mid-February. In

January, SMIT Amandla’s six vessels on charter

to PetroSA included those mentioned above

and the ‘Pentow Malgas’, ‘Eagle Star’ and ‘Sarah

Baartman’.

A story of subsea successIt takes a unique kind of individual to pursue

a career as a diver. It requires specialist skills,

intense training and the acceptance of the ele-

ment of risk. As a training ground for divers to

gain oilfield experience, SMIT’s terminal opera-

tion in Mossel Bay is unsurpassed. The diver

training programme has achieved much suc-

cess, particularly in the training of black diver

candidates.

SMIT AMANdLA MARINE: FULL AHEAd FOR FUTURE gROWTH

Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe, Manana Nhlanhla, Sithembiso Mthethwa, Abel Dutilh and Paul Maclons.

SMIT representatives during the

SMIT Amandla Marine launch in

Cape Town.

Participants of the ‘Marine Emergency Response’ workshop.

In a ceremony last November, held at the

Malacanang Palace - the official residence

of the President of the Philippines - repre-

sentatives of SMIT Singapore received the

Presidential International Employer Award

from Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-

Arroyo.

SMIT’s Jan Peter Duijvestijn, Director of Shared

Resources, and Victor Dass, Manager of Human

Resources, represented the Group at the cer-

emony. The award recognises, inter alia, SMIT

Singapore’s long term employment of Filipino

seafarers, its contribution to the Filipino econ-

omy and its cadet-training scheme and train-

ing and development programmes for officers

and crew.

SMIT Singapore has been employing Filipino

seafarers for the past 30 years. The company

currently has 1,235 Filipino personnel in its

regular pool of marine crew. They range from

Masters to cooks.

In a separate ceremony a day earlier, SMIT

Singapore also received a ministerial award

as an outstanding employer of Filipino sea-

farers, granted by the Department of Labor

and Employment. It was presented by Labor

Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas.

Human Resources Manager Victor Dass said

that SMIT employs seafarers of many nation-

alities, but Filipino staff were prominent. He

added: “Their strong seafaring tradition, abil-

ity to converse in English and a positive work

attitude are amongst the reasons for the high

number of Filipino staff employed.”

The awards received were based on employ-

ment figures and data on economic and wel-

fare contributions to the Philippines provided

by the Philippines Overseas Employment

Administration (POEA).

Asian Lift celebrated 20 successful years in

the heavy lift industry in March of this year.

The company was formed in 1985 as a joint

venture between Keppel FELS and SMIT. To

mark the milestone, Asian Lift organized a

golf game for clients and business partners

in the morning, followed by a reception and

dinner.

A total of 42 golfers teed off at Raffles Country

Club for a friendly game. They included Abel

Dutilh, Managing Director of SMIT Transport &

Heavy Lift and SMIT Salvage, and Choo Chiau

Beng, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of

Keppel Offshore and Marine.

The evening dinner reception was held at

Singapore’s Shangri-la Hotel, with about

180 guests and staff attending. In his open-

ing address, Abel Dutilh noted that Asian Lift

now has five floating sheerlegs in its fleet. The

largest unit is ‘Asian Hercules II’, with a 3,200

tonnes lift capacity - the largest sheerlegs in

South East Asia.

At a ceremony on March 29th, SMIT Singapore signed the contract

for the purchase of seven newly-built vessels from Hadi H. Al-

Hammam Est., of Saudi Arabia.

These vessels are in the 75 tonnes bollard pull class and represent a

modified version of the existing vessels ‘Smit Kamara’ and ‘Smit Komodo’.

The first two units in this series will be delivered this year. The third and

fourth vessels are expected in 2007 and the last three in 2008. These ver-

satile work vessels - with anchorhandling, fire-

fighting, supply, rescue and towing capabilities

- will be managed by SMIT Singapore.

This significant investment represents both

expansion and fleet replacement. Three vessels

have already secured long-term contracts for the

oil and gas sector - working for Saudi Aramco in

Saudi waters, through Hadi H. Al-Hamman Est.

This Group and SMIT have declared their intent

to jointly pursue additional opportunities in

Saudi Arabia.

The acquisition of the new vessels fit SMIT’s

strategy of focusing on the top-sector of the

market, with long-term contracts, autonomous

growth and fleet renewal.

The first of the new vessels was named ‘Smit Lombok’ by Ms Lee Sook

Fung at a ceremony held in Singapore during April. SMIT Chief Executive

Officer Ben Vree and the Supervisory Board of SMIT Internationale N.V.

attended the ceremony.

SMIT SINgAPORE RECEIvES HONOURS

ASIAN LIFT CELEBRATES 20 YEARS

SMIT TRANSPORT & HEAvY LIFT EXPANdS FLEET

The Directors and General Manager of Asian Lift celebrate the company’s twentieth year of operation.

Jan Peter Duijvestijn, Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas,

Victor Dass and other representatives.

F.l.t.r. Ms Lee Sook Fung, Manager Finance and Administration SMIT Singapore, Capt. John

Bruinsma, Manager SMIT Transport Asia, Mr TK Rajgopal of Hadi H. Al‑Hammam Est, Mr Robert

Chua of Hadi H. Al‑Hammam Est. and Mr Tony Seah, Legal Counsel SMIT Singapore.

www.smit.com13

tug magazine

URS is expecting the delivery of a further

two newbuildings by the end of this year.

During 2005 four 33 m ASD tugs, with a 66

tonnes bollard pull, joined the URS fleet

following delivery from Astilleros Armon

of Spain. During mid-2005 URS placed a

second order with the same yard, for two

tugs of 25 m. These units have a similar bol-

lard pull - 65 tonnes - and are designed and

outfitted for two-man operation.

The 25 m tugs have some novel features. The

deckhouse is around 80 cm higher than the

four 33 m units, giving exceptional vision. The

wire runs under the deckhouse to the stern.

This means they can work with only one winch

and tow over the stern. The new 25 m tugs will

be stationed at Zeebrugge, where shipping

traffic levels continue to rise.

URS is reinforcing its competitive position

on the Scheldt and in the ports of Antwerp,

Flushing, Zeebrugge, Terneuzen and Gent. Its

strategy is founded on the ability to compete

successfully on costs and operational effi-

ciency. Increasingly, the status of cost-leader

depends on efficient two-man operation of

tugs. Fleet standardisation is another impor-

tant issue. The URS fleet’s 3111 and 2801 tugs

are crucial as they offer great flexibility across

a wide range of harbour towage and other

marine services.

URS, meanwhile, is considering the renewal

of its larger offshore tugs. Studies are now

under way. Options are being explored for the

replacement of vessels in the 80 tonnes bollard

pull class.

Other developments in recent months include

the preparation of a major tender for the long-

term maintenance and repair management of

pilot boats on the Scheldt. The outcome of this

bid is awaited. As for salvage activity on the

river and adjacent waters, URS recently joined

Terneuzen-based Multraship in the opera-

tion to free the Kuwaiti vessel Fowairet, which

grounded on a bank. The salvage team suc-

ceeded in refloating this casualty.

URS: NEW TUgS FOR ZEEBRUggE EXPECTEd BY YEAR-ENd

SMIT’s latest “Managing Marine

Emergencies” (MME) course, held in

Rotterdam during April, brought together

shipping and insurance professionals from

around the world. Delegates attending this

course included P&I managers, hull under-

writers, spill responders and representa-

tives of government agencies, port authori-

ties and vessel owners and operators. The

delegates were drawn from eight countries.

The purpose of the four-day course is to share

first-hand knowledge of the operational reali-

ties of managing a major incident, including

effective liaison with the media and other

third parties. The course draws on real cases to

explore problems and solutions and, in doing

so, highlights best practice.

This popular course was first established over

a decade ago. It is held twice-yearly at SMIT’s

Rotterdam headquarters and annually in

Singapore. The MME programme has two sec-

tions. The first spans three days and explores

the technical, legal, insurance and salvage

aspects of casualty response. This course ele-

ment is presented by SMIT’s salvage experts

and external specialists.

The final day focuses on the external aspects of

response, including communication with the

media. Delegates participate in a highly real-

istic casualty simulation, gaining knowledge

which is readily transferable to the workplace.

During the exercise, they learn to balance

operational priorities with the need to commu-

nicate effectively with a range of third parties

in high pressure circumstances. This final MME

day is managed by a consultant specialising in

media and marine casualty response.

SMIT Salvage Commercial Director Geert

Koffeman says: “Course participants really

enjoy this challenging last day, as it provides

the complete picture of what it feels like to

be at the centre of a high profile casualty.

The demands of media response require the

response teams to think beyond purely opera-

tional aspects and to consider the public and

political consequences of their decisions. Some

tough decisions are required and, as in the

case of a real situation, the participants have

to live with any error of judgement or inappro-

priate release of information. For this reason,

every decision they take is crucial.”

A new generationKnowledge-sharing and knowledge manage-

ment are also matters of great importance

within the SMIT organisation. SMIT Salvage

Director Hans van Rooij explains: “Knowledge-

sharing is a concept which is

simple to express but much

harder to achieve. In the con-

text of salvage, the biggest

challenge here is to ‘transmit’

knowledge to a new genera-

tion. This has become more

difficult in recent years, as

there are far fewer opportuni-

ties to gain experience in the

field.

“Modern marine salvage

requires a high level of aca-

demic knowledge. Yet, at the

same time, many salvage skills

can be developed only in the

field. Today, however, there are

far fewer casualties and, there-

fore, fewer opportunities to

gain operational experience.

“The precious knowledge

gained by an older genera-

tion needs to be preserved

and transferred and that is

no easy matter. Their expertise must be trans-

ferred if we are to do everything possible to

reduce risks to people and the environment.

One way forward is closer personal contact

between people of different generations.

Another approach is to compile databases on

the management of particularly complex and

difficult salvage operations. We are pursuing

both methods.

“Furthermore, every salvage operation now

performed is documented and recorded in

such a way that the key data can be studied

by those who may, one day, find themselves

facing the same situation.”

With pollution prevention now the top prior-

ity in virtually every salvage operation, envi-

ronmental care is the first principle of casualty

response. Care for the marine environment

represents an important market for salvage

services.

Hans van Rooij says: “Our people fully under-

stand the significance of environmental care.

This embraces a number of issues, including

regulatory requirements, political realities and

industry liabilities. In our view, SMIT has much

to offer in sharing knowledge of issues such

as contingency planning, disaster recovery

and new technology, to overcome operational

challenges.”

SHARINg KNOWLEdgE OF CASUALTY RESPONSE ANd POLLUTION PREvENTION

Four URS tugs providing harbour towage

assistance in Antwerp, Belgium.

Participants of SMIT’s MME course in April in Rotterdam.

The SmitWijs - managed Global Towing

Alliance (GTA) pool expanded its fleet of

ocean-going long haul tugs with the addi-

tion of a unit from COESS (China Ocean

Engineering Services/Shanghai Salvage) in

2005. This tug is the 2000-built, 185 tonnes

bollard pull ‘De Hong’.

An 89.9m, 200 tonnes bollard pull newbuild is

now under construction at Wuchang Shipyard,

Wuhan, China. This tug is expected to join the

SmitWijs fleet, under the GTA banner, by early

2007. The newbuilding is to be known as ‘De

Zhou’.

SmitWijs was established in 1991. It is a 50:50

joint venture between SMIT and what is now

SvitzerWijsmuller. Its primary market is the

provision of long haul ocean towage services

for FPSO’s and other large floating objects,

including FSOs and semi-submersible rigs.

Assignments also involve floating units such as

large construction barges and floating docks.

During 2005 SmitWijs contributed to the

wider SMIT restructuring programme. It with-

drew from the anchorhandling sector and

sold the units ‘Tempest’ and ‘Typhoon’. This

reflects the fact that both SmitWijs partners are

already active in the anchorhandling market

through other companies and operations.

(SvitzerWijsmuller through Maersk/A.P. Moller’s

global infrastructure and, in the case of SMIT,

the build programme for the new ‘Smit Kamara’

Class of anchorhandling/multirole vessels).

SmitWijs now focuses entirely on the core

business of long haul ocean towage. Beyond

the GTA fleet, the joint venture also operates

the Emergency Towing Vessel Waker, based

at Den Helder and operating under contract

to the Dutch Government to provide standby

towage and salvage services. The responsibility

for the ‘Waker’s salvage duties rotates annually

between SMIT and SvitzerWijsmuller.

SmitWijs Managing Director Jord Veldman

says the outlook for SmitWijs/GTA is encour-

aging: “The market began to improve during

the second half of 2004 and this improvement

continued during last year. We expect further

progress this year and for the foreseeable

future.”

Assignments in 2005 included a contract with

Heerema for the transport of jackets and decks

for offshore installations in West African waters.

Many of the pool tugs - ‘Wolraad Woltemade’,

‘SmitWijs Singapore’, ‘De Da’ and ‘SmitWijs

Rotterdam’ - were involved in this series of

eight voyages, completed in the November

2004-August 2005 period. Each voyage, towing

laden Heerema barges from the US Gulf to off-

shore Angola, took around 40 days.

Another notable project during 2005 was the

tow of the newbuild FPSO ‘Sanha’ from Japan

to Angola. This FPSO, constructed by IHI, was

delivered on location during March 2005 by

the ‘Wolraad Woltemade’ and ‘De Da’.

These tugs were entrusted with a very special

asset. ‘Sanha’ is unusual, being an LPG FPSO.

It is required for the ‘Sanha’ gas condensate/

Bomboco project offshore Cabinda, Angola.

The FPSO was ordered by ChevronTexaco’s

Angolan affiliate, Cabinda Gulf Oil Company.

The FPSO now receives LPG from two adja-

cent platforms (Sanha PCP and F-GP) before

offloading to shuttle tankers. It is capable of

processing over 37,000 barrels of LPG per day

into propane and butane products. The vessel

has storage for 135,000 cu m of these products.

Another SmitWijs FPSO assignment involved

the ExxonMobil-owned ‘Erha’, which was towed

from Singapore to Nigeria, under contract with

Saipem. This project commenced in September

and ‘Erha’ was installed by early January. Three

GTA tugs- ‘SmitWijs Singapore’, ‘SmitWijs

Rotterdam’ and ‘De Hong’ - performed this

voyage. A second contract was awarded by

Stolt to SmitWijs for marine support during the

installation phase. This 285 m FPSO has an ini-

tial production capacity of 165,000 bopd and

storage capacity of 2.2 million bbls.

The market for semi-submersible rig moves

was buoyant in 2005. SmitWijs contracts

included the repositioning of the ‘Deepsea

Driller II’ from Singapore to the US Gulf. The

voyage was undertaken by the ‘SmitWijs

London’, 22,000 hp. The rig arrived in the Gulf

of Mexico in May of last year.

Other rig moves included the relocations of

the Pride North America, from Angola to Egypt,

and the Atwood Southern Cross, first from

Singapore to Egypt and, subsequently, from

Egypt to Malta. After this voyage, ‘SmitWijs

London’ proceeded immediately with the tow of

a floating drydock from Malta to Namibia, com-

pleting three successful tows in rapid succes-

sion immediately after her drydocking last year.

This busy rig move programme continued

into 2006. Jord Veldman says: “We are still in

a very strong spot market. The semi-sub rig

moves so far this year included the relocation

of ‘Blackford Dolphin’ from South Africa to

Rotterdam, tackled by the ‘SmitWijs London’,

and the move of Stena Tay from Mauritania

to the US Gulf. This assignment, on behalf

of TotalFinaElf, was performed by ‘SmitWijs

Singapore’. Stena Tay arrived in the US Gulf

during mid-March.

“This was an interesting project. Stena Tay is

self-propelled but towage was required in

order to reduce mobilisation time in the very

strong rig market. In a low market, the rig

would almost certainly have proceeded under

her own power. The fact that towage was

required underlines the strength of the current

rig market. We have seen a number of towage

assignments in recent times with the main

objective of fast mobilisation.”

Rig tows now in prospect include the move

of the ‘Safe Scandinavia’ from the US Gulf to

Norway. ‘SmitWijs Rotterdam’ will commence

this voyage this month (May). Meanwhile,

the pool tug ‘De Da’ has just completed the

relocation of the Sedco 702 from Australia

to Singapore. In addition, the ‘Wolraad

Woltemade’ has also just completed the move

of the ‘Safe Concordia’ from Singapore to the

US Gulf.

Jord Veldman adds: “FPSO assignments this

year include the P.54 newbuilding, now under

tow by ‘SmitWijs Rotterdam’ from Singapore to

Brazil. This vessel is required for the Roncador

Field, in the Campos Basin, offshore Brazil.

Prior to commencing this voyage, ‘SmitWijs

Rotterdam’ assisted in the salvage of the

‘Hyundai Fortune’, a container vessel which

exploded whilst off Aden.

“Looking ahead, we expect the rig market

to remain strong for at least the next 18-24

months. Furthermore, interesting opportuni-

ties continue to arise in the FPSO sector.”

SMITWIjS EXPANdS gTA OCEAN TOWAgE POOL

FPSO ‘Erha’ during transport from Singapore to Nigeria.

The ‘SmitWijs London’ departing from

Malta with a floating drydock.

www.smit.com15

tug magazine

Hans van Rooij presenting the ITS 2006 inaugural paper.

Ben Vree interviewed by conference Chairman Mike Allen.

Minister Karla Peijs and Alderman Wim van Sluis made their

presence at the opening of ITS 2006.

SMIT tugs participated in a record-break-

ing event during the five-day programme.

The tugs ‘Smit Loire’, ‘Smit Owena’, ‘Eerland 5’,

‘Eerland 23’ and ‘Rijn’ were amongst a fleet of

over 50 tugs parading at Rotterdam’s Cruise

Terminal. The ITS 2006 organisers have applied

to the Guinness Book of Records for an entry to

mark the world’s biggest parade of tugs, rep-

resenting old and new and the smallest to the

largest now in service.

Rotterdam is a natural location for ITS as, in

many ways, it is the epicentre of the interna-

tional tug and salvage industries. The venue

certainly attracted record numbers of del-

egates and exhibitors.

The conference venue was the newly-refur-

bished Beurs-World Trade Congress Centre, in

the business heart of Rotterdam. ITS 2006 was

opened by Dutch Minister of Public Works,

Transport and Watermanagement Dr Karla

Peijs. The exhibitors included no less than 14

tug builders, from Singapore, India, Canada,

Russia and Turkey. SMIT’s stand was one of the

largest at the exhibition and was frequently

visited throughout the event.

During the final day, Friday April 28th, many

ITS 2006 delegates took the opportunity to

join a tour of SMIT’s new headquarters at the

Waalhaven. The conference delegates then

concluded ITS 2006 at an evening reception

hosted by SMIT on board the ‘Admi’, moored

alongside the company’s headquarters.

The ITS 2006 inaugural paper was presented

by SMIT Salvage Managing Director Hans

van Rooij, in his capacity as President of the

International Salvage Union. The conference

programme included an interview with SMIT

CEO Ben Vree. The interview, before the audi-

ence of conference delegates, was conducted

by conference Chairman Mike Allen.

During his address, Hans van Rooij referred

to the new ISU proposals for the introduction

of Environmental Awards for salvage services

which result in pollution prevention. During

March, a meeting of the Lloyd’s Salvage Group

agreed to establish a special subcommittee

to examine these proposals. Under the ISU’s

concept, Salvage Awards would continue to

reward salvors who recover property, but a

distinct Environmental Award would be intro-

duced, to reward those who prevent spills and,

consequently, reduce the burden of clean-up

costs and compensation claims.

SMIT, together with other ISU members, have

a successful track record in preventing pollu-

tion. Over the past 12 years, nearly 13 million

tonnes of oils, chemicals and other pollutants

have been recovered from over 2,000 ship

casualties.

Hans van Rooij also referred to the emergency

services provided by ISU salvors in the United

States, following hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The salvage operations ranged from the

recovery of drifting oil rigs to the refloating of

grounded vessels in the Mississippi.

The ITS 2006 programme also included a

paper on technical developments in sal-

vage presented by Bert Kleijwegt, Business

Development Manager and Senior Salvage

Consultant for SMIT Salvage.

Bert Kleijwegt said there are three main driv-

ers for innovation in salvage: greater efficiency,

new operational needs (including the salvage

of ever larger and more complex vessels) and

public concern for the marine environment.

He described SMIT’s work in developing new

systems for greater efficiency, including the

wreck-cutting wire and the Aqualub water

injection system for the effective pumping

of heavy oils. As for new operational needs,

he cited the development of new systems

for dealing with fires on a new generation of

gigantic container vessels. He also outlined

SMIT’s research concerning the salvage of

double-hulled tankers.

In the area of environmental care, Bert

Kleijwegt told ITS delegates that SMIT’s pio-

neering work continues in developing systems

for the cost-effective assessment of pollution

threats and the diverless recovery of pollutants

from sunken vessels.

Other innovations on the environmental front

include SMIT’s concept for a mobile, high

capacity system for the treatment of salvage

wastewaters. SMIT is also a partner in a venture

which produced the “FOR” (Fast oil Recovery)

system. This is a pre-installed connector

system, it allows for rapid connection for the

ship-to-ship transfer of cargo or bunkers, or

the pump-out of pollutants from sunken ves-

sels.

The ITS delegates’ visit to SMIT began during

the late afternoon of April 28th. Guests were

welcomed by SMIT Chief Executive Ben Vree.

They then began a tour of the new head-

quarters building, quayside facilities and

SMIT’s principal salvage warehouse in the

Netherlands. In this logistics centre, salvage

equipment is held in readiness for immediate

deployment anywhere in the world.

The visitors were briefed on how SMIT main-

tains readiness at a level allowing salvage

teams to intervene and perform several major

operations simultaneously, on a global basis.

The tour concluded with drinks and a dinner

on board the ‘Admi’.

ROTTERdAM SUCCESS FOR ITS 2006

SMIT played a prominent role in making Rotterdam an

outstanding success as a venue for the 19th International

Tug & Salvage Convention and Exhibition, held in the

city during April.