Argentine Responders Rescue Crew of Sinking Tug on Rio de la Plata
Last week, the Argentine Naval Prefecture rescued the crew of a tug that flooded and partially sank while pushing a container barge off the coast of Buenos Aires.
On Friday, the captain of the Paraguayan-flagged tug Papu Mar made a mayday call to report flooding on board at a position off Atalaya in the Paso Banco Chico, the inner bay of the Rio de la Plata. All crewmembers safely abandoned ship onto their own barge and were rescued by first responders. They were taken ashore for medical checkups.
Courtesy Argentine Naval Prefecture
The tug Papu Mar is still partially sunken, but does not pose a hazard to navigation, the agency said in a statement. The barge has 153 containers aboard, and it is still lashed to the tug. No cargo losses or damage have been reported.
To monitor for environmental impact, Argentina's naval prefecture continues to monitor the area with occasional overflights. A commercial tug, the Ona Don Lorenzo, is keeping the barge out of the channel while salvors prepare for next steps.
Egypt Launches First Domestically-Built Tugs for Suez Canal
Egyptian officials celebrated the launch of the first two domestically-built tugboats on April 23, which will be used for the Suez Canal. They highlighted it was part of a broader effort to expand Egypt’s maritime community and support the capabilities of the Suez Canal Company.
In a public-private partnership, new shipyard capabilities were established at the southern port of Safaga where the tugs were launched. The development of the yard included a new marine quay with mooring bollards, a quay for lifting vessels, and an 850-ton winch for lifting and unloading equipment and vessels.
During the speeches, it was highlighted that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is supporting the effort. The president outlined the vision of localizing various marine capabilities in Egypt. In addition to the tug construction, the president directed the development of a new fishing fleet which will include 12 deep-sea vessels as well as the construction capabilities for tourist vessels.
New cranes and berths were built to increase Egypt's shipbuilding capabilities (SCA)
The first of 10 new tugs planned for the Suez Canal Authority were officially launched during the ceremony. They highlight the tugs have a pulling power of 90 tons and incorporate advanced navigational capabilities and environmentally friendly technologies. Each tug is 32 meters (105 feet) in length and with a top speed of 12 knots. They were designed by the international firm Robert Allan.
Among the features incorporated into the new tugs are main engines from the Belgian company ABC that will provide increased operating power and longer service life. They have also been designed to reduce carbon emissions. Incorporated into the design is a special external fire extinguishing system, using a separate engine from the main engines, which helps to provide better control and maneuvering during fire emergencies, and a water capacity of up to 2,400 cubic meters.
The first two vessels, Azm 1 and Azm 2, were launched while work is underway on units number 3 through 6. The hulls are completed and outfitting is underway on the mechanical, electrical, and piping work. A total of 10 tugs will be built in this class.
The Suez Canal Authority highlights an ambitious strategy to develop and modernize its maritime fleet by incorporating the latest technologies. The new tugs will be part of the fleet both for the guidance of vessels and to respond to emergencies. Work is also underway at the Alexandria Naval Yard on the Authority’s largest tug which will have a reported pulling force of 190 tons.
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