SPA bids farewell to tug boats Ascension and Rosemary |13 February 2024
Tug boats Ascension and Rosemary no longer form part of SPA’s fleet (Photos: SPA)
After having faithfully served for over 12 years in its fleet, the Seychelles Ports Authority’s two oldest tugs – Ascension and Rosemary – set sail to their new home on Saturday February 10, 2024.
Negotiations for their sale started last year and, finally, the official sale document was signed on February 3, 2024. The sale of Ascension and Rosemary is in line with the Seychelles Ports Authority’s (SPA) strategy to upgrade its fleet; replacing the older ones with new and more powerful tugs equipped with modern technology to deliver a better service to vessels calling at Port Victoria.
The two tugs are very similar. Both have length overall of 21.3m and draft of 2.4m, bollard pull of 30 tons each, maximum speed of 11.6 knots and a range of 1,200 nautical miles at economical speed.
Ascension and Rosemary were purchased in 2011. They were transported to Seychelles on a general cargo carrier and arrived at Port Victoria on June 11, 2011. Unfortunately, due to bad weather they were only able to be unloaded two days later, on June 13, 2011, at Beau Vallon.
Over the years, both tugs have been instrumental in SPA’s maritime operations, assisting thousands of vessels to navigate through the winded and narrow channel into Port Victoria, numerous berthing and unberthing of vessels as well as shifting of vessels from one berth to another. Tug Ascension was actively engaged in the maintenance of channel buoys on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue and also the maintenance of lighthouses on those three islands.
Ascension and Rosemary have assisted in many salvage operations. They served SPA until their last day with the authority.
SPA is now left with its oldest tug Alouette followed by its two newer ones, Ste Anne and Mamelles to continue discharging its operational duties. SPA is planning to purchase a new tug of 50 bollard pull as the final step in its tug boats upgrade strategy.
Communiqué from SPA
