THAMES tug 1961
Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 8:22 pm
13 October 1969 Dubai issued 5 stamps of which three stamps show us the building of KHAZZAN DUBAI No 1 storage tank and the towing of the tank from the coast to her position to the Fateh Oilfield in the Persian Gulf where the tank was submerged.
The towing operation was carried out by L. Smit & Co, Rotterdam by two tugs of this company the THAMES and the ZWARTE ZEE. It was called “Operation Champagne glass”.
13 August 1969 the THAMES towed the tank out the dock, as seen on the 20 d stamp. When free of the building suite the stronger ZWARTE ZEE joined the tow.
Built as a tug under yard No 883 by J&K Smit’s Scheepswerven, Kinderdijk, Netherland for Smit Internationale Sleepbootmij N.V., Rotterdam.
25 August 1961 launched as the THAMES.
Tonnage 664 grt, 46 nrt. Dim. 53.42 x 10.47 x 5.11m., draught 4.62m, length bpp. 47.50m.
Powered by two 9-cyl. MAN diesels, 2,500 bhp., speed 15 knots.
Bollard pull 32 ton.
19 December 1961 delivered to owners.
Used for all salvage and towing work around the world
10 April 1972 transferred to Smit Internationale Zeesleep & Bergingsbedrijf N.V., Rotterdam.
12 July 1974 transferred to Smit Internationale Sleepbootmaatschappij THAMES BV at Rotterdam.
1979 Converted by the Amsterdamse Droogdok Maatschappij (ADM) in Amsterdam to a discovery yacht
February 1980 delivered to Valmont Marine Services, managed by Salisman Ltd. at Georgetown, USA, renamed in ITASCA, which means true beginning.
Tonnage given as 845 grt. 5 double guest cabins, crew accommodation for 12.
She sailed thereafter to Seattle where her conversion was completed. In time for her first trip to the Caribbean.
The next 10 years mostly cruising on the west coast of America and Alaska during the summer and in the winter going to Mexico.
She was sold in May 1993 to Bill Simon, under command of Capt. Allan Jouning she made a voyage again to Alaska to look if it was possible for her to pass the North-West Passage, after her return in June to Seattle she was substantially refitted for the voyage through the North-West Passage.
Her afterdeck was modified to carry a helicopter.
June 1994 she was ready for the voyage and with a crew of 12 and invited guests she moved north.
03 August she left from Port Clarence, Alaska and sailed into the Bering Strait, passing the North-West Passage, after a call to New York she headed to the Antarctic waters passing through the Straits of Magellan then round Cape Horn via the Drake Passage to the Antarctic continent reaching a point of 68 degrees South before she returned via the Chilean Archipelago to Puerto Montt, Chile.
Then she headed for Auckland, New Zealand across the Pacific.
1995 At Auckland she underwent a refit during the southern winter, after the refit she made a Pacific Island cruise.
February 1996 she went to Alaska from there along the west coast of America and via the Panama Canal she entered the Caribbean.
Then she headed for New York before she in made a charter voyage around the world. November 1997 she was in Patagonia waters.
Christmas 1998 she was back in New Zealand.
From that time she made charter voyages around the world.
2010 In Auckland for a refit.
2021 Still sailing. IMO No 1002055., same name and owner.
Dubai 1969 20d sg342, scott114.
Source; Blauwe Wimpel. Super Yachts by John Julian. Some web-sites.
The towing operation was carried out by L. Smit & Co, Rotterdam by two tugs of this company the THAMES and the ZWARTE ZEE. It was called “Operation Champagne glass”.
13 August 1969 the THAMES towed the tank out the dock, as seen on the 20 d stamp. When free of the building suite the stronger ZWARTE ZEE joined the tow.
Built as a tug under yard No 883 by J&K Smit’s Scheepswerven, Kinderdijk, Netherland for Smit Internationale Sleepbootmij N.V., Rotterdam.
25 August 1961 launched as the THAMES.
Tonnage 664 grt, 46 nrt. Dim. 53.42 x 10.47 x 5.11m., draught 4.62m, length bpp. 47.50m.
Powered by two 9-cyl. MAN diesels, 2,500 bhp., speed 15 knots.
Bollard pull 32 ton.
19 December 1961 delivered to owners.
Used for all salvage and towing work around the world
10 April 1972 transferred to Smit Internationale Zeesleep & Bergingsbedrijf N.V., Rotterdam.
12 July 1974 transferred to Smit Internationale Sleepbootmaatschappij THAMES BV at Rotterdam.
1979 Converted by the Amsterdamse Droogdok Maatschappij (ADM) in Amsterdam to a discovery yacht
February 1980 delivered to Valmont Marine Services, managed by Salisman Ltd. at Georgetown, USA, renamed in ITASCA, which means true beginning.
Tonnage given as 845 grt. 5 double guest cabins, crew accommodation for 12.
She sailed thereafter to Seattle where her conversion was completed. In time for her first trip to the Caribbean.
The next 10 years mostly cruising on the west coast of America and Alaska during the summer and in the winter going to Mexico.
She was sold in May 1993 to Bill Simon, under command of Capt. Allan Jouning she made a voyage again to Alaska to look if it was possible for her to pass the North-West Passage, after her return in June to Seattle she was substantially refitted for the voyage through the North-West Passage.
Her afterdeck was modified to carry a helicopter.
June 1994 she was ready for the voyage and with a crew of 12 and invited guests she moved north.
03 August she left from Port Clarence, Alaska and sailed into the Bering Strait, passing the North-West Passage, after a call to New York she headed to the Antarctic waters passing through the Straits of Magellan then round Cape Horn via the Drake Passage to the Antarctic continent reaching a point of 68 degrees South before she returned via the Chilean Archipelago to Puerto Montt, Chile.
Then she headed for Auckland, New Zealand across the Pacific.
1995 At Auckland she underwent a refit during the southern winter, after the refit she made a Pacific Island cruise.
February 1996 she went to Alaska from there along the west coast of America and via the Panama Canal she entered the Caribbean.
Then she headed for New York before she in made a charter voyage around the world. November 1997 she was in Patagonia waters.
Christmas 1998 she was back in New Zealand.
From that time she made charter voyages around the world.
2010 In Auckland for a refit.
2021 Still sailing. IMO No 1002055., same name and owner.
Dubai 1969 20d sg342, scott114.
Source; Blauwe Wimpel. Super Yachts by John Julian. Some web-sites.