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Towing the Line

Semco Salvage & Marine has carved out a niche of expertise in the field of project management for long-haul FPSO towages

Having completed the first leg towage of the Sea Eagle FPSO hull from Ulsan, Korea, to the Sembawang Shipyard in Singapore in June 2001, Semco was called out again by Halliburton Far East for the follow-on towage of the Sea Eagle from Singapore to offshore Nigeria, where the FPSO has been fully outfitted and ready for mobilisation to its final work site.

Using two of its biggest tugs, namely the sister ocean salvage/towage 10,000 ihp 110-tonne bp tugs Salvaliant and Salvigour, the Sea Eagle departed Singapore on tow on 3 August 2002. In handling this second part of its towage contractual commitment to Halliburton, Semco also had to arrange for a helicopter crew change off Durban, after both tugs had individually run into Durban to top up the bunkers. The spread successfully completed this part of the towage project off Durban on 9 September, where 10 helicopter trips were made. Average tow speed for this leg from Singapore to Durban was 6.5 knots with relatively reasonable weather conditions.

Experienced crew
Aside from providing the two tugs to tow the FPSO, Semco also provided riding crew and an experienced tow master, Captain Alan Stockwell, on board the Sea Eagle. Captain Stockwell had been a senior tug master before and is very familiar with ocean towage services. Together with the two tug masters, Captain Fred Hodgins and Captain Bales, Semco also had a dedicated project team led by Assistant General Manager Eric Ng and Marine Operations Manager Captain David Betts.

Semco has carved out a niche of expertise in project management for long-haul FPSO towages primarily from Asia Pacific to destinations like Rio de Janeiro, Glasgow, Aberdeen and West Africa.To increase capabilities and provide clients with an even better level of service, Semco has also started building two ocean salvage/ towing tugs each of 75m LOA 13,500 bhp 160-tonne bollard pull. These two tugs, which will have anchor-handling capabilities, are due for delivery around Sep/Oct 2003, and will greatly enhance the capabilities and service levels of Semco.

Website: www.semcosalvage.com

www.semcosalvage.com