BOA Odin

Back in Halifax for the first time since 2015, the tug BOA Odin arrived June 19 from Storasund, Norway, towing the semi-submersible heavy load barge BOA Barge 34.

Built in 2010 to a Robert Allen design the tug is rated at only 4083 bhp but claims a bollard pull of 97 tonnes (fore winch) and 105 tonnes (aft winch). The tug has GE main engines and Schottel ASD drives. Despite looking like a harbour tug, it has made numerous transatlantic crossings towing barges.

In 2015 the tug was in Halifax on two occasions when it towed the sections of the former Novadock floating drydock to Tampa, FL on the BOA Barge 33.
Seehttp://tugfaxblogspotcom.blogspot.com/search?q=boa+odin

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Maersk Maker back to Denmark

After a very short duration under Canadian flag the large offshore tug / supplier Maersk Maker has returned to the Danish registration. Built in 2019 under Danish International registration the tug was transferred to Canada February 4, 2020 for work in Newfoundland. However that work was apparently cancelled and it was then sent to Nova Scotia. It was in and out of Halifax for work related to the decommissioning of Exxon Mobil's Sable Offshore gas field, possibly setting anchors for the crane ship Thialf, then in supply/support.

http://tugfaxblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2020/04/maersk-maker-at-pier-9c.html

It has been replaced in that project by Maersk Mobiliser another vessel of the same Starfish class of 260 tonne bollard pull.

Maersk Maker returned to St.John's, Newfoundland, via Bay Bulls, then sailed from St.John's May 16 for Aberdeen, Scotland. On arrival its Canadian registry was closed June 4 (effective June 1). It returned to Danish International registry and will be working in the North Sea spot market.

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Atlantic Tern and Siem Commander

Atlantic Towing Ltd operates a varied fleet of suppliers, mostly based in Newfoundland, and including some newish vessels. One not so new boat is the Atlantic Tern, based in Halifax.

Built in 1975 by Vito Steel Boat and Barge of Delta, BC, it worked for Canadian Marine Drilling in the Beaufort Sea as Supplier II and Canmar Supplier II until 1998 when it went to the North Sea as Rem Supporter until 2005 and Thor Supplier until 2012. (It was also extensively modified.)

When Atlantic Towing Ltd acquired the boat they initially named it Atlantic Birch II. Atlantic's harbour and coastal tugs are typically named for trees and their offshore tugs are named for birds. Since the boat was assigned to the offshore, it was soon renamed Atlantic Tern.

Although fitted with engines providing 7,040 bhp, it seldom needs all that power. It does carry small amounts of supplies but spends most of its time in offshore standby mode at the Deep Panuke gas field off Sable Island.

Sailing for the same destination at the same time was Siem Commander, followed soon after by Maersk Mobiliser (not pictured).

The wells in the field are currently being capped and the structures removed by Heerema's giant crane ship Thialf  It will load the scrap material aboard company barges which will be towed to the UK by company tugs.

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