Author Topic: Tug Vlieland with tow westwards in English Channel today  (Read 10616 times)

Offline libertyshiplad

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Tug Vlieland with tow westwards in English Channel today
« on: April 05, 2015, 07:22:42 PM »
Wondered if anyone knows the name of the vessel being towed,coaster of maybe less than 2000 tons with name of perhaps 5 letters,seen off Hythe around 2pm.

Offline shipsoffterneuzen

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Re: Tug Vlieland with tow westwards in English Channel today
« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2015, 11:20:10 PM »
Towing the coaster Fri Sky.

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P. van Luik
www.shipsoffterneuzen.nl

Offline Paul Bradshaw

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Re: Tug Vlieland with tow westwards in English Channel today
« Reply #2 on: April 06, 2015, 12:34:59 AM »
I wonder why the Canadian media would not be covering this?

Offline davidships

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Re: Tug Vlieland with tow westwards in English Channel today
« Reply #3 on: April 06, 2015, 09:53:56 AM »
VLIELAND shown as heading for Las Palmas.  Seems a long way to tow a vessel like this - odd?

FRI SKY recently changed flag from Bahamas to Vanuatu

Offline libertyshiplad

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Re: Tug Vlieland with tow westwards in English Channel today
« Reply #4 on: April 06, 2015, 01:37:28 PM »
Many thanks for replies.
She was built in 1981 so maybe going for scrap (see they do some shipbreaking there),or their artificial reef?
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Offline davidships

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Re: Tug Vlieland with tow westwards in English Channel today
« Reply #5 on: April 06, 2015, 07:30:36 PM »
Doubt she's going for scrap - they have plenty of abandoned vessels down there, and most scrap tows are AWAY from Las Palmas.
It may be that that destination isn't right.
Will keep watching.

Offline shipsoffterneuzen

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Re: Tug Vlieland with tow westwards in English Channel today
« Reply #6 on: April 06, 2015, 08:18:19 PM »
She should be bound for Banjul (Gambia).
Maybe working on a local river over there.


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P. van Luik
www.shipsoffterneuzen.nl

Offline libertyshiplad

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Re: Tug Vlieland with tow westwards in English Channel today
« Reply #7 on: April 09, 2015, 04:49:32 PM »
Today Marine Traffic has destination as Kas Turkey.

Offline Mac Mackay

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Re: Tug Vlieland with tow westwards in English Channel today
« Reply #8 on: April 16, 2015, 01:58:05 PM »
What is the Canadian connection? Did I miss something?

Offline davidships

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Re: Tug Vlieland with tow westwards in English Channel today
« Reply #9 on: April 16, 2015, 10:23:10 PM »
More odd that Paul's mention of the Canadian media (I wonder whether that message was meant for another thread), is whatever VLIELAND has been up to.
She has been chugging along at 9-10 knots eastward past the Frisian Islands all evening, having dropped off AIS since 7 April.

She certainly sailed Slikkerveer on 4 April towing FRI SKY.
http://koopvaardij.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/voormalige-nederlandse-hester.html
After passing Dover Strait she kept north of the traffic lanes on an inshore route, passing the Lizard and ceasing AIS transmissions (I think) at 0630 on 7 April as she entered the separation zone south of the Scilly Isles, heading WSW.

Meanwhile on 14 April FRI SKY pops up heading southwards between the Canary Islands and the African coast apparently under her own steam at a healthy 9kn, and is now off Mauritania heading for Banjul with ETA 18 April.  The destination is not strange as she is now listed as sold to local oil products distributor Jah Oil Co Ltd (Hamidou Jah), Banjul.

So the questions are:
Why did FRI SKY need to be towed out of Europe?
Where did VLIELAND go with her?

Offline miraflores

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Re: Tug Vlieland with tow westwards in English Channel today
« Reply #10 on: April 17, 2015, 05:51:15 AM »
Tug returned on 7th April and is now in the Elbe Pilot area, eastward, possible passing the Kiel Canal.
Juergen

Offline Pilot Frans

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Re: Tug Vlieland with tow westwards in English Channel today
« Reply #11 on: April 17, 2015, 09:58:15 AM »
One option that is have to towed out is that her engine could run only on heavy fuel oil.
And not complying with the new low sulphur rules in North Sea and English channel.

regards
Frans Sanderse

Offline davidships

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Re: Tug Vlieland with tow westwards in English Channel today
« Reply #12 on: April 17, 2015, 12:38:11 PM »
That's a very likely suggestion, Frans
More work for tugs!!!!

Offline libertyshiplad

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Re: Tug Vlieland with tow westwards in English Channel today
« Reply #13 on: April 30, 2015, 08:09:16 PM »
Have not been able to receive Broadband for nearly 3 weeks,so very interested in latest comments.
Does this mean that the Fri Sky (and any others using heavy fuel oil) are now unable to operate anywhere North of the English Channel?
Many thanks

 

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