‘Tugs on Station’ is the title of the new temporary exhibition of the Dutch National Towage Museum in Maassluis in the Netherlands. With numerous and often unknown photographs and objects the imagination is captivated of this special form of assistance wherein the Dutch played an important role for decades. Salvages like that of the ‘Burgerdyk’, ‘Sports’, ‘Otto Petersen’ and ‘Ivar’ are presented. There was much competition. Not only from the German Company ‘Bugsier’. Dutch firms Wijsmuller, Smit, Doeksen and Willem Muller competed to arrive first at the location of a ship in distress and to offer their assistance on the basis of Lloyd’s Open Form – no cure no pay. Today, Smit, Svitzer and Multraship still have occasionally tugs on station but the nature of the work and services have changed substantially.
National Dutch Towage Museum organises LEGO® building contest!
From June 2nd, 2018 an exhibition will take place in the Nationaal Dutch Towage Museum in Maassluis, showing tugboat models that are built with LEGO® or similar building blocks. Where boat model builders traditionally worked with wood and glue, we now see a growing interest in building models with plastic building blocks like LEGO®. Copying all sorts of objects with plastic building blocks is becoming more and more popular, and these days already so common, that you can see the forming of social model building clubs (so called AFOL’s (Adult Fans of LEGO). And for a growing number of shipping companies it is common use to have models of their own ships being designed in LEGO® by professionals, and show these models in their offices.
Enough reason for our Towage Museum to organize an exhibition, that will last from June 2nd till September 23rd 2018, that will be entirely devoted to tugboat models built with LEGO® or similar building blocks.
We are also happy to inform you, that anyone has the opportunity to participate in this exhibition by building your own tugboat! How? The National Dutch Towage Museum namely will organize a LEGO® contest! Young and adult LEGO builders can send a photograph to our museum of their self-built ship. Who will design the most beautiful selfmade model of a tugboat, supply vessel or salvage ship?
The contest consists of 3 competitor categories: up to 11 years old, from 12 till 17 years and 18 years and older. Models of existing ships as well as fantasy models are allowed. But, originality will be rewarded. The winning models will be shown at the exhibition. There are also prices connected to the most beautiful models. The received photographs will be judged by a jury, that will determine the winning models.
Registration is possible up to May 17th, 2018 by downloading (see at the bottom of the page), filling in and sending in the Registration form along with your photograph to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Further in this article you will find the Competition rules.
If you are interested, we mention that the measures of the models should not exceed the maximum length of 55 cm and 20 cm wide. The pictures must be at least approx. 2500 x 1600 pixels and 1 MB, and must be saved in a current photo file type, such as JPEG.
This exhibition and contest will be organised independent of Lego Nederland B.V.
For further information about the exhibition and the contest, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 010 – 5912474 or mr. Maarten Helwig, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 06-33008733.
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Rules of the LEGO® tugboat model building contest
In connection with an exhibition of LEGO® built ship models during the period June 2nd till September 23rd 2018, the National Dutch Towage Museum in Maassluis organises a contest of shipmodels, that are constructed using LEGO® building blocks or other similar building blocks.
The Prize-giving event will take place during the opening ceremony of the exhibition on Saturday, June 2nd 2018.
The winners of the competition will be invited to be present at this opening ceremony.
All of the competitors and their families will be invited to visit the exhibition for free on Sunday, June 3rd 2018.
The most beautiful models or their photographs will be shown at the exhibition. Every sent-in picture of a self-built model will figure in the virtual exhibition on the website of the National Dutch Towage Museum.
Registration
To participate in this contest, the builder must send in a clear representative photograph of the model, along with a fully filled in registration form. Photo and form must be sent to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The pictures should measure a minimal resolution of approx. 2500 x 1600 pixels and a file size of about 1MB, and saved in a current photo file type. The registration form can be downloaded from the website of the National Dutch Towage Museum. The closing date to send in the photos and forms is May 17th, 2018.
Requirements of the model.
Only physical built models can compete, a mere digital design for instance does not suffice.
Per person only 1 model is allowed to be registered for the contest. As ship types are admitted models of tugboats, salvage ships and supply ships. The maximum size of the model is 55 cm. long and 20 cm. wide. As building material LEGO®- or similar building blocks must be used. It is not obligatory that the model is a copy of an existing vessel.
Determine the winners.
As leading judgement criteria will be applied the originality and the details of the models.
The jury team consists of representatives of the National Dutch Towage Museum and mr. Edwin Korstanje and Arjan Oude Kotte, who are well known builders of nautical LEGO models.
In the judgements 3 age categories will be taken in consideration: Up to 11 years old, from 12 till 17 years and 18 years and older (as is at the time of sending in the registration form and picture).
The jury procedure is as follows: From the received collection of photographs a preselection of 6 models per age category will be made by the jury. All chosen models will in any case be shown in the exhibition. Out of this group of 18 preselected models three winners per age category will be chosen. The builders of these 9 winning models will be invited to attend the prize-giving ceremony, that will take place during the opening session of the exhibition on Saturday, June 2nd 2018.
Apart from the 18 preselected models, one or more models of the not selected photographs can be assigned a stand in the exhibition. In these cases the builder will be contacted by the Museum.
Miscellaneous rules and conditions
Participants of the contest must give their consent to hand over their models in free loan to the Musem and allow the Museum to show them in the Museum during the period of the exhibition, and to deliver their models themselves at the address of the museum in Maassluis, in case their model will be chosen to be presented in the exhibition.
The participants of the contest allow the Museum also to use their sent-in photographs of the models for PR purposes by the Museum.
During the exhibition (June 2nd till September 23rd 2018) the models are insured by the museum.
The National Dutch Towage Museum reserves to itself the right to end, extend or change the contest and its rules at any moment and to her own judgement.
The contest is an independent initiative of the National Dutch Towage Museum and has no relationship whatsoever with LEGO®.
Using the link below you can download the Registration form for the LEGO building contest:
Extended exhibition "Tugs on Station"
‘Tugs on Station’ is the title of the new temporary exhibition of the Dutch National Towage Museum in Maassluis in the Netherlands. With numerous and often unknown photographs and objects the imagination is captivated of this special form of assistance wherein the Dutch played an important role for decades. Salvages like that of the ‘Burgerdyk’, ‘Sports’, ‘Otto Petersen’ and ‘Ivar’ are presented. There was much competition. Not only from the German Company ‘Bugsier’. Dutch firms Wijsmuller, Smit, Doeksen and Willem Muller competed to arrive first at the location of a ship in distress and to offer their assistance on the basis of Lloyd’s Open Form – no cure no pay. Today, Smit, Svitzer and Multraship still have occasionally tugs on station but the nature of the work and services have changed substantially.
Bring the SMIT-LLOYD 1 back home!
On december 16, 1964 the keel of yardnumber 256 was laid at the shipyard of “De Hoop” at Lobith. The vessel was launched on April 10th, 1965 and received yardnumber 642 to be completed at H.H. Bodewes Shipyards at Millingen. She was christened “Smit-Lloyd 1”. Despite her name she was the second of a series of newly designed type of vessels to accommodate oil rigs and work stations all around the world’s oceans. The “Smit-Lloyd 1” had a long career. First she sailed under the flag of L. Smit & Co’s Internationale Sleepdienst at Rotterdam. Not much later she became part of the ever growing fleet of Smit-Lloyd N.V., Rotterdam. After a succesful 20 year career she was sold to Sea Service Ltd., Valetta, Malta and renamed in “Sea Serv III”. Apparently her new owner was very happy because another 20 years were added to her name. In 2004 she was sold to First Pacific Trading Company Ltd., managed by Tankship Management Ltd, also at Malta under the name “Ramla Bay”. After only two years she changed owners again without losing her name. She was sold to Island Fendering at Malta. In 2010 she was bought by her current owner Dipmar Gemi Kurtarma, a Turkish company that gave her the name “Deep Supporter”. And now she’s for sale. We would like to get her back to the Netherlands 18TH VOLUME, NO. 62 DATED 02 AUGUST 2017 12/27 and bring her back to her original outfit. To conservate and to exploit. She’s the very last vessel of this type that became an example of the whole offshore industry. We would like to set up a foundation. Of course we need to find out if this plan has a chance. The owners are willing to sell this ship for 250.000 euro’s. Suppose we’re able to raise that amount of money? Then what? We will have to find permanent docking facillity. A few ideas: 1. Get her out of the water and find a dry spot on land to put her on display. This could be a parking lot or a round-a-bout. This way the vessel will not have to be under class and the maintenance costs are lower. But eventually the public interest will fade away because she’s not a sailing ship. As vandalism will set in and before you know it the ship will be wrecked. 2. Keep the vessel in the water at a permanent docking facillity with the possibility to arrange trips in the harbor. This way the ships doesn’t have to be under class but can be exploited. The Port of Rotterdam is big enough and has a lot of interesting places to entertain people. This might lead to an income large enough to put her under class eventually. 3. Put her under class and have international trips. For this of course we need an certified crew. This is the most expensive possibility. What can we do with the “Smit-Lloyd 1”? We can set up excursions, wedding parties, live performances of bands and of course there will be an excursion through the ship guided by people who sailed her. She is in A1 condition and the only thing that needs to be done is painting her back in her original colours. Every piece of equipment on board is original. We would like to keep her away from the scrap beaches. We have until October to place a bid so we are in need of serious money. Please donate. Help us to bring her back home !!!!! Go to the donation site HERE and join use for a change
Two new models for the Dutch National Towage Museum
Last week the National Dutch Towage Museum could add two new very fine models to her collection. First a model of the harbour tug Jan Goedkoop Jr. and second the Ocean Going Salvage tug Barentsz Zee. The builder Jan Rison, a retired operator, spent more than 500 working hours on each model. Jan Rison said: “I found the Barentsz Zee ten years ago at an antiquary at the Spiegelgracht in Amsterdam when I did some restore work on old ship for him. The model was found in a garbage container and I ask the antiquary why the model was dumped into the container. He told me that this model could be restored but that it is up to you. I took the model home and start with the restoration. The model was made of sink plates on a brass keel with brass frames bended from brass T-profile and all soldered. The bow was complete destroyed which I have complete restored it with polyester. The superstructure was made from red copper which I complete renewed with polystyrene plate as the model has to be sailed again. The cap on the stake is still from red copper. My building time for this model was 500 hours. Personally I think the builder of the model spent more than 2000 hours” The tug Jan Goedkoop Jr. is made from wood with frames. On this Jan spent another 500 hours for this model. The Dutch National Towage Museum is grateful that Jan has ceded the models to the Museum. Visit the Dutch National Towage Museum and watch the fine models with all her details. Hoogstraat 1-3 - 3142 EA Maassluis (Photo’s; Hans de Klerk)
by Hans van der Ster
‘Tugs on Station’ is the title of the new temporary exhibition of the Dutch National Towage Museum in Maassluis in the Netherlands. With numerous and often unknown photographs and objects the imagination is captivated of this special form of assistance wherein the Dutch played an important role for decades. Salvages like that of the ‘Burgerdyk’, ‘Sports’, ‘Otto Petersen’ and ‘Ivar’ are presented. There was much competition. Not only from the German Company ‘Bugsier’. Dutch firms Wijsmuller, Smit, Doeksen and Willem Muller competed to arrive first at the location of a ship in distress and to offer their assistance on the basis of Lloyd’s Open Form – no cure no pay. Today, Smit, Svitzer and Multraship still have occasionally tugs on station but the nature of the work and services have changed substantially.
Book: Bow Tug Operations
The third edition of Capt Henk Hensen's monograph has been updated to include several crucial aspects that play an important role in bow-to-bow operations , such as skeg and stern design. In addition, the author has included suggestions for test trials on a tug's suitability for bow-to-bow operations, with images explaining the trials discussed - all focusing on the safety of tugs, tug crews and attended ships. Informatively illustrated in full colour, Bow Tug Operations is aimed at helping tug captains, ships' masters, pilots, tug operators, marine administrators and fleet managers to identify the potential dangers and ways to avoid them.
Price: £25.00 ITS Club Discount Available of 5%
Van Wijngaarden Marine Services orders second Damen Shoalbuster 3512 in twelve months
November 22nd, 2016
New tug ARASHI for Iskes IJmuiden
The year 2016 promises to be another interesting year for Ijmuiden-based Iskes Towage & Salvage with delivery of a new Damen 2810 tug to report along with progress on its newbuilding EDDY tug also due this year.
Before we take a detailed look at the Damen delivery it is worth reminding ourselves of Iskes’ activities. It operates a fleet of around fifteen modern mainly ASD tugs and is active in harbour towage, offshore services and emergency response. Iskes’ harbour towage activities are mainly based at Amsterdam and Ijmuiden, towage provision at the latter dating back to 1928. It is also now operating in nearby Rotterdam with of late the ASD tugs Brent and Mercurius working in Europe’s busiest port.
Delivery of the EDDY Tug 24-70 by Holland Shipyard, to be named Telstar promises to be one of the more interesting stories of the year no doubt returned to in this column. In the meantime, Iskes has another new tug to integrate into its family with recent delivery of the Damen ASD 2810 tug Arashi.
The new addition is classed by Bureau Veritas, flies the Dutch flag and is homeported in Ijmuiden. Looking in detail at Arashi’s main dimensions: length overall is 25.78m, length extreme 27.9m, length including fenders 28.67m, beam moulded 9.8m, extreme beam (including fenders) 10.43m, depth moulded 4.6m, draught 4.8m and air draught 18m.
Main propulsion is provided by Caterpillar via two 3516C main engines each developing 1,865kW at 1,600rpm driving Rolls-Royce US 205 azimuth thrusters. Auxiliary equipment includes two Caterpillar C4.4 TA gensets each developing 107kVA. Tank capacities include 72.3m3 of gas oil, 14.9m3 of fresh water and 15.7m3 of ballast. Performance figures quoted are 62.2tbp and speed 13.6kn.
Iskes has included a comprehensive deck equipment specification with Arashi. Damen DMT winches are fitted forward and aft, forward a hydraulically-driven towing and anchor winch has a 32 ton pull (at 9.2m/min) and 150 ton brake load. On the aft deck a hydraulically-driven double drum towing winch is installed with a 33 ton pull at 9.5m/min and 35 ton pull at 9m/min, brake load is also 150 tons. Towing provision is supplemented by a Mampaey 650kN SWL towing hook.
Deck space aft is 90m2 and additional deck equipment includes a Heila HLM 20-3S crane capable of lifting 2,000kg (including winch lifting power). A five-ton load capstan is also provided and the tug has fire-fighting capabilities via two monitors delivering a total of 1,200m3/min.
Main supplier of navigation and communication equipment on board are Furuno who supply: two radars, satellite compass, GPS, echo sounder, Navtex, AIS, SSB and Inmarsat C terminals. Sailor and Jotrun supplied the main and portable VHF sets and EPIRB and SART and Simrad the autopilot.
By Peter Barker
- See more at: http://www.maritimejournal.com/news101/tugs,-towing-and-salvage/investment-continues-at-iskes-towage-and-salvage#sthash.XO7zbVMm.dpuf
Save the SMIT-LLOYD 1
The moment of truth is there. The very last version of the original A-class Smit-Lloyd suppliers is about to disapear. We are talking about the former “Smit-Lloyd 1”, built in 1965 en the second vessel in de Smit-Lloydfleet. Since 2013 operating under the name of “Deep Offshore”. The condition of the ship is excellent but the current owners have decided to take it out of commission due to lack of employment. At this time there are negotiations between a group of passionate shiplovers and the owners to try to get the former “Smit-Lloyd 1” back home and save it from the scrap yards. We need the amount of 250.000 US dollars (or 230.000 euro’s) to be able to buy the vessel. And then we need some more for transportation, either with a fully certified crew, or maybe the possibility of a semi-submergible pontoon. In the first case we need insurance, food and fuel supply. In the second case…. well, no company will do this transportation for free… At this moment we are looking into ways to set up a foundation to try to raise the money through crowd funding/sponsoring/donations. Buying the ship and getting it back to the Netherlands is one thing. Maintaining it is something else. We need docking facilities, a group of volunteers and the list goes on. But every journey starts with the first step and that is buying the vessel. I’m confident more steps will follow once the first step is taken. We need all the expertise we can get in this matter. Like the Americans say: “Put your money where your mouth is!” On the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Smit-Lloyd-11770022119922751/?fref=ts you will find the initiator of this project mr. Leroy Smith.
Steam tugboat NOORDZEE arrives in Den Helder
For the installation of a new boiler the steam tugboat NOORDZEE has been towed from Medemblik to Willemsoord Museum Harbour in Den Helder, the Netherlands. The NOORDZEE was built in 1922 at the Janssen & Schmilinsky yard in Hamburg, Germany, and was fitted out with a compound steam engine and Scottish boiler made by Blohm & Voss. The owner of the tug is the Steamtug Noordzee Foundation. The photograph shows the departure of the Noordzee from Medemblik and was pushed by the tugboat Zeeleeuw. (Tugs, Towing & Offshore Newsletter).
More...
Tug STEENBANK saved from demolition
A joint action from two entrepreneurs with a large dedication for the Dutch tug and towing heritage and a group of dedicated volunteers have made it possible to save the 1250 HP coastal / Harbour tug Steenbank (build 1960 ) from final demolition. Sunday October 23 the Tugboat port Maassluis was enjoying a great moment when the Tug Albatros (build 1959 ) also voluntarily towed the crippled Steenbank into the Outer harbour after a successful towage trip from IJmuiden. The Steenbank was assisted by the former Smit harbour tug Maassluis (1948). By welcoming the Steenbank, Maassluis Tugboat harbour is consisting of a fleet of not less than 9 museum vessels related to the heritage of the first harbour on the Waterway. Together with the National Tugboat Museum, Maassluis is offering a unique remembrance of Ships, objects and other materials from the past hundred years of towing history. The Steenbank will be totally renovated into here original NRS Livery. (from: Tugs Towing & Offshore Newsletter).
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Specifications and short history (courtesy of The Tugslist / Piet van Damme):
\r\n(sisterships: SCHOUWENBANK, STEENBANK)
Registered: LR66-67:533974
IMO 5339743 /(NLD)brand:10810 Z Rott 1960 /(NLD)IVR 27.10810
183 GRT, L30,38m(28,00), B7,55m, Dr2,99m, Dp3,81m (99'8"x24'9"x9'10")
1 fpp +nozzle, d-e., 2x diesel 4t 8cyl K.H.Deutz (nr.2599726/33 +2599718/25) type BA.8M.528, 1240bhp-912kW total @750rpm, sp 11kn, bp 13t
STEENBANK
1960 -16/11: Launched by "Scheepswerf v/h H.H. Bodewes" at Millingen (NLD) (YN 560) (keel laid 02/06/1960)
1960 -16/12: delivered to "L. Smit & Co's Internationale Sleepdienst Mij NV" at Rotterdam (NLD)
(NLD flag, regd Rotterdam, brand:10810 Z Rott 1960, IVR 27.10810, c/s PHSF)
1961 (31/05): chartered to "NRS - Nieuwe Rotterdamse Sleepdienst" at Rotterdam (NLD)
1972 -xx/07 (10/04): To "Smit Internationale Havensleepdiensten BV" at Rotterdam (NLD), renamed ASTROLOOG
(NLD flag, regd Rotterdam, c/s PCVO)
1980 -xx/04: To the "Belgische Zeemacht" at Oostende (BEL) (for 25,000,000.-Bef), renamed C/Lt VALCKE (pennant A 950)
(BEL flag, regd Oostende)
1985 -27/02: damaged in a collision with UK ferry 'European Enterprise' off Zeebrugge (BEL)
1994: laid up
1996: refit and back in service
2007: still in service
Pict. Fotoboek Belg. Zeemacht p.93 +142
STEENBANK prepared for towing to her hometown Maassluis
The tug Steenbank this week recounted the demolition yard Treffers in Haarlem to the Jetty of Iskes in IJmuiden where the ship will be made ready for the transport to Maassluis. The first Europoort tug with an installed engine power of 1,250 HP will be renovated in its former repair/maintenance port Maassluis and completely restored to its original NRS (Nieuwe Rotterdamse Sleepdienst) colors. The name NRS comes back again as the owner of the ship has chosen the initials in a name. To know Nostalgic Rotterdam Tugs. The tug was built in 1960 by Scheepswerf v/h H.H. Bodewes – Millingen; Netherlands under number 560 and delivered to L. Smit & Co's Internationale Sleepdienst Mij NV – Rotterdam. In 1961 chartered to NRS - Nieuwe Rotterdamse Sleepdienst – Rotterdam. In 1972 transferred to Smit Internationale Havensleepdiensten BV - Rotterdam and renamed Astroloog. In 1980 sold to the Belgium Navy – Oostende and renamed Valcke (pennant A 950). In 1985 damaged in a collision with UK ferry European Enterprise off Zeebrugge. In 1994 laid up. In 1996 refit and back in service. She has a length of 30.38 mtrs a beam of 7.55 mtrs and a depth of 3.81 mtrs. The twp Deutz diesel engine have a total output of 912 kW (1,250 bhp) with a free sailing speed of 11 knots and a bollard pull of 13 tons.
Harbour tug ARGUS for sale
It is reported that the 1955 built Dutch harbour tug Argus is for sale at a bankruptcy auction. The ug is berthed in Hendrik Ido Ambacht; Netherlands. The tug was built by NV Scheepswerf v/h H.H. Bodewes – Millingen; Netherlands under number 495 and delivered to L. Smit & Co's Internationale Sleepdienst Maatschappij – Rotterdam as Argus. In 1972 transferred to Smit Internationale Havensleepdiensten BV- Rotterdam. In 1985 sold to Juillit Overseas Corp Ltd. – Panama and renamed Argus 1. In nthe same year arrested after a wild pursuit by Dutch river-police near Hoek van Holland for drugs-traffic, chained at the Entrepothaven by Dienst der Domeinen, laid up at Den Helder; Netherlands. In 1989 sold to J. Nijhof - OudBeijerland; Netherlands. In 1995 sold to J. Hoornstra & A. Dijkstra – Jubbega; Netherlands used as houseboat at Drachten; Netherlands. In 2002 sold to F. van Santen – Kootstertille; Netherlands and renamed Antje 6. In the same year sold to Ad Stolk Schepen BV - Hendrik Ido Ambacht, Netherlands and re-renamed Argus. In 2010 sold to G. den Boer – Zwijndrecht; Netherlands. She has a length of 26.45 mtrs a beam of 6.90 mtrs and a depth of 2/90 mtrs. The Smit-Man diesel engine delivers an output 386 kW (575 bhp) and a free sailing speed of 10 knots.
(from: Tugs Towing & Offshore Newsletter/Hans van der Ster)
Hull wants founding of United Towing Co. towage museum
Calls are being made for a Hull museum dedicated to tugs and a famous city firm. In its heyday, United Towing Company Ltd employed around 500 people and boasted a fleet of around 30 docking and river tugs, and 12 ocean-going salvage tugs. But Michael Hussey, chairman of the United Towing and Salvage Society, believes more needs to be done to recognise the contribution tugs made to Hull. He said: "It is disappointing to me personally, and the society in general, that so little has been made by the city to promote this fantastic and relevant maritime history and heritage.
(Source: Hull Daily Mail / Towing Line.com)