Phenix (2008/643gt) is one of three
powerful Voith Schneider Propeller tugs
operated by Solent Towage, an Østensjø
Rederi subsidiary, at the Esso refinery
at Fawley on Southampton Water. They
are optimised for tanker handling and
escort duties, with their Voith Turbo Fin
enabling very high steering forces when
working fin-first in the escort role. Kotug Smit Towage’s ZP Boxer
(2012/299gt) was transferred from
Hamburg to Southampton in 2017, where
the Azimuth Tractor Drive Tug 2412
joined two other Vietnamese-built vessels
operated at the port by rivals Svitzer
Towage. The tugs have Damen’s ‘Twin
Fin’ technology, which provides great
agility and gives them an impressive
70-tonne bollard pull despite their small
size, making them ideally suited to
handling large ships in confined waters.
ALL IMAGES MARITIME PHOTOGRAPHIC30 • Summer 2018 • http://www.shipsmonthly.com
Tugs are a small but important link in harbours, pushing
and pulling ships, and keeping them on time. They are
vital in allowing ports to operate safely and efficiently.
The 16 members of the British Tugowners Association
operate 150 tugs in over 30 UK ports, and this
selection of photos shows some of those craft.MOSAIC