The UK’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has contracted the maritime services company Ardent for emergency towage off the north and north-western coasts of Scotland.
The new ship to be used – the Ievoli Black – is a 70 metre towing vessel of some 2283 gross tonnes and a bollard pull of 139 tonnes.
The anchor handling tug supply vessel is due to arrive on station at Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands by Dec 31, 2106, where it will relieve the current ETV Herakles.
Ievoli Black is capable of firefighting operations, anchor handling, towing, research and underwater services. Ardent previously contracted the vessel to serve under the Dutch Coastguard as ETV from 2010 to 2013.
“I welcome the arrival of our new tug. Maritime safety is of the greatest importance to the UK Government,” UK government minister John Hayes said. “This Scottish ETV will stand ready to support commercial vessels which get into trouble at sea and in doing so, will safeguard the Scottish coastline.”