40 years service for FAIRPLAY TOWAGE Hamburg

Tugowner sells deepsea-tug „FAIRPLAY IX“

The Hamburg based company, FAIRPLAY TOWAGE has sold its deepsea-tug “FAIRPLAY IX”.

Fairplay has the custom of re-using their ships’ names. In Fairplay’s 105 year long history, certain names have been allocated up to five times. The story of the “FAIRPLAY IX”, which has just been sold to Greece, is slightly different. It is only the second tug that has sailed under her name.
The first “Fairplay IX” was a harbour tug. She was built in 1910 by a local Hamburg shipyard, specifically for harbour assistances in the Port of Hamburg. In the very early days of WW1 (1914), the tug was confiscated by the “Kaiserliche Marine” (the German Navy) who used her for several purposes, one of which was minesweeping off the Port  of Cuxhaven. In 1919 the vessel was returned to Fairplay. But before long, at the start of WW2 (1939), the German Navy confiscated her once more, and again, she was stationed off Cuxhaven. In 1945 the Navy returned the ship to its rightful owners. In 1966, at the fine age of 56, the first “FAIRPLAY IX” was finally scrapped in Lübeck.

Today’s “FAIRPLAY IX” can “only” look back at a lifespan of 40 years under the Fairplay star. Together with her predecessor namesake, however, this swiftly adds up to already 96 years of Fairplay history.

Built in 1970 at Schichau Werft in Bremerhaven as Yard-No. 1751 she sailed hundreds of thousands of sea miles for Fairplay Towage.
With 57 tons bollard pull and two very cost-efficient MaK-Diesel engines, the tug was predominantly used for long distance towage. Her large bunker capacities enabled the tug to tow for 90 days without stopping. The economic advantages and the great reliability of her ‘Made in Germany’-stamp, made this tug a favourite with both her clients and her owners. Her utilization was exceptional.


Next to long towage trips, “FAIRPLAY IX” led an extremely adventurous life. The most remarkable incident she experienced was the hijacking of ‘tug and tow’ in 1988. The tug was taken by pirates in the port of Manila and after a veritable odyssey via Taiwan and Japan, she was finally returned to Fairplay two weeks later in Hong Kong.
In January 1990 she was involved in the salvage of the Iranian MT ‘Kharg’, together with her sister vessel “FAIRPLAY XIV”. The “Kharg”, a turbine tanker with 270.000 tons of crude oil on board and a draught of 26m had encountered serious problems in a typhoon just off the Moroccan coastline.
In September 1990 in Guinea, West-Africa, 18 African refugees stealthily stowed themselves away aboard an accommodation-pontoon which was to be towed to Europe. It was only when they had come as far as the Dutch coast that the  “FAIRPLAY IX” crew detected the stowaways.
For the last two years, “FAIRPLAY IX” has mainly been operative towing new-build offshore-hulls from Black Sea yards where they were constructed, to Norway.

On the 26th of January 2011, the “FAIRPLAY IX” was delivered in Bremerhaven to her new Greek owners ‘The Spanopoulos Group’. Forthwith, she will fly the flag of Marshal Islands and sail under her new name ‘CHRISTOS XXIV’.

Fairplay Towage was established in Hamburg in 1905 and is active in deepsea- and coastal towage, salvage, offshore services and pontoon-chartering. Fairplay’s core business is harbour towage, with their own tug stations in Hamburg, Rostock, Wismar, Stralsund, Wolgast (all in Germany) and Swinoujscie as well as Sczcecin (Poland). In 1998 Fairplay established a harbour towage set-up in Rotterdam followed in 2008 with an operational set-up in Antwerp.

In addition, Fairplay is a founding member of the “Arbeitsgemeinschaft Küstenschutz”, a pool of three German tug-owners who charter the privately managed ETVs “NORDIC”, “BALTIC” and “Fairplay-25” to the German Government.

Hamburg, 26.01.11
JM/-

FAIRPLAY TOWAGE takes delivery of a new tug

The Hamburger based Fairplay Towage took delivery of the third newbuilding out of a series of 4 units from Spanish shipyard Astilleros Armon. „FAIRPLAY X“ is the 6th tug of this name in Fairplay’s 104 years of history. The first „Fairplay X“ was built for Carl Tiedemann, Hamburg in 1910 and was scrapped in 1950. The second tug with this name was originally built for Wismuller, Ijmuiden in 1918 and was – after many years of service for Fairplay – scrapped 1965. The third „Fairplay X“ was launched on the Fairplay owned shipyard Theodor Buschmann in 1966 only to be sold to France one year later. Already 1967 Fairplay had another seagoing tug “Fairplay X” which was sold to England 20 years later and finally the fleet contained a “Fairplay X” as from 1999 which was bought 2nd hand from England and sold again in 2007 to England.

This latest fleet-addition has, however, little in common with her pre-decessors. It belongs to the strongest tugs in Fairplay’s fleet and is built according to the latest standards by the Spanish yard Astilleros Armon in Navia/Spain.

With an LOA of 25m and a width of 11,2m “Fairplay X” – as her already delivered sisters “Fairplay I / III”, as well as the “Fairplay XIV” still under construction, will primarily serve in the ports of Hamburg, Rotterdam and Antwerp.

Two 8-cylinder ABC-engines (Type ABC 8MDZC 4-stroke) with each 1850KW at 1000 RPM generate the power for two Schottel SRP1515-rudder-propellers, producing a bollard pull of more than 70 tons and a free-running speed of 12kn.

Two Scania 6-cylinder-diesel-engines (Type D 9 95M 10-40) with a power output of each 196kw are generating the required on-board electricity.

A Brusselles double-drum winch (Type SLH150.20/2-2-2) produces a breakforce of 1800kN. Ships’ assistances will be performed primarily via the bow (Push & Pull). One of the double drums will carry a 90m Dyneema-Line whereas the other will carry conventional towing gear (52mm wires) either for port operation or sea-towages. For towage-jobs over the stern the tow-wire is guided through a tunnel below the accomodation to the aft-deck.

The extensive fendering around the entire ship is protecting the hull and especially designed for the „Push & Pull-Mode“

Designed for a 3-men-crew the tugs each count a total of 6 bunks.


Navigation- and communication equipment corresponds to the presently available technical standards. The tug is built according to Bureau Veritas with a class-notation: „BV + Hull + Mach Tug unrestricted service + AUT UMS“.

Compared to the sister vessels “Fairplay I / III”, this tug’s hull has slightly been modified. With the assistance of the Fairplay-owned Buschmann-shipyard a skeg was developed which will further increase the course-stability when sailing backwards.

At the same time when Fairplay took delivery of “Fairplay X”, Astilleros Armon launched the “Fairplay XIV”, the last tug of this series. Her delivery is scheduled for mid/end October 2009.

Fairplay Towage operates a fleet of harbour-, offshore- and deepse-tugs, stationed in Hamburg, Rotterdam Antwerp, the German Baltic as well as Poland. Through its subsidiary BBB Schlepp- und Hafendienst in Rostock a fleet of pontoons is operated. With the 50% participation in Multraship in 2008, both companies launched the Joint Venture “Antwerp Towage” in September last year, starting harbour services in the Port of Antwerp. Since 2004 respectively 2008 Fairplay is also active in Poland through its 10% subsidiaries “Project Zegluga”, based in Szczecin and “Port-Hol” located in Swinoujscie.

Hamburg, 10th August, 2009
JM/-

Photo (C) Karsten Linder

Tugboat „FAIRPLAY VIII“ new Museumship in Hamburg

“Foundation Hamburg Maritim“ takes delivery of a traditional harbour-tug from FAIRPLAY-Towage

Today the “Foundation Hamburg Maritim“ took delivery of the 47-year-old Hamburg harbour tug “FAIRPLAY VIII” from its previous owner FAIRPLAY-Towage. Just after the 600 BHP tug was moored at its new berth at Sandtorhafen, Hamburg’s new museum-port, Joerg Mainzer, Managing Director of FAIRPLAY-Towage, handed one of the original brass-keys of the tug’s wheelhouse as well as the ship’s papers to Reinhard Wolf, Chairman of the Board of the “Foundation Hamburg Maritim”. The tug, built in 1962 on the Theodor-Buschmann-Yard which belongs to the Fairplay-Group since 1957, will fortwith be moored at Sandtorhafen and will be open for visitors. The Foundation also plans to operate the tug for tours with special guests for example on the famous annual “Hamburg Harbour Birthday”. The Foundation is presently looking for volunteers who shall forthwith be responsible for maintenance and operations.

During the hand-over ceremony, Joerg Mainzer gave a short resume of the long history of this tug which sailed the entire 47 years under Fairplay’s flag. „We are happy, that a traditonal harbour tug will not go the breakers but will fortwith serve as information source for tourists and interested groups on the tasks of harbour tugs in those days which are still very much the same in today’s modern times.“ The ocean-going tug „FAIRPLAY VIII“ was built 1962 at the Theodor-Buschmann-Yard in Hamburg for FAIRPLAY-Towage. Until 2002 the ship was predominantly operated in the Port of Hamburg, occassionally also as a salvage tug. Towards the end of the 90ties, Fairplay changed its colour regime from the then traditional white/brown/black livree to today’s more modern blue/white Fairplay house-colours. The tug just passed its intermediate survey at its building yard Theodor-Buschmann where the new owner changed the colours back to the original style.

When the ever growing size of ocean-going ships calling the Port of Hamburg outgrew the 12 tons bollard-pull of „FAIRPLAY VIII“, FAIRPLAY-Towage repositioned the tug to the German Baltic Port of Wismar. In Wismar she was active until mid May 2009.

Amongst the guests during the hand-over ceremony, many tugboat enthusiasts as well as active and retired Fairplay-crews and office staff were spotted. Especially the FAIRPLAY-retirees were warmly welcome by Reinhard Wolf: „The preservation of the maritime heritage of our city can only succeed with the help of people who have a close affinity to our port and to shipping in general. We herewith invite you whole heartedly to assist us in establishing the future presentation of this wonderful tugboat. Like for the other traditonal ships of the „Foundation Hamburg Maritim“ such as the pilot-schooner „No. 5 ELBE”, the “SCHAARHÖRN”, the “JOHANNA” or the cargoship “BLEICHEN”, we intend to establish an own operational unit made-up by volunteers, which will ensure proper maintenance and the operational reliability of the tug”.



The „Foundation Hamburg Maritim“ was established in 2002 by the „Hamburg Landesbank“ (today HSH Nordbank) on the initiative of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce with the aim to preserve Hamburg’s maritime heritage. Next to historic ships and the „Harbour-Museum“, the Foundation is operating the Sandtorhafen, a revived port basin in Hamburg’s thriving new city quarters “HafenCity”.

Hamburg, 2nd July, 2009

New Towage Provider in the Port of Antwerp

One of the busiest ports in Europe sees a new towage provider. As per 18th September the newly established company “Antwerp Towage NV” has commenced towage operations in Antwerp with 4 harbour tugs.
Antwerp Towage NV, which is a 50/50 Joint Venture between Hamburg based Fairplay Towage and Multraship of Terneuzen will act as local set-up for the day-to-day operations of 4 tugboats which will serve ships calling the river-areas of the Port of Antwerp. Each shareholder in “Antwerp Towage NV” will supply 2 tugs.
The initial fleet consists of the 65tbp tug “Multratug 5”, the 53 tbp tug “Fairplay-22”, the 48tbp tug “Fairplay XVII” and the 35tbp tug “Multratug 10”. Multraship and Fairplay Towage intend to replace this “start-up” fleet in due course with ordered newbuildings ranging from 65 – 80 tbp. In case of need, additional tugs will be made available from Multraship Terneuzen or Fairplay Rotterdam.
Fairplay Towage, Hamburg bought 50% of dutch towage and salvage specialist Multraship in August this year to jointly develop new fields of activities as well as strengthen both companies’ strategic position. The new towage service in Antwerp is the first result of this cooperation.

• Multraship is a leading Dutch towage and salvage company which draws more than 90 years of experience. Its core activities include salvage, wreck removal, harbour towage, coastal and deepsea towage as well as services to the offshore- and dregding industries. Three new tugboats are scheduled to be delivered to Multraship from late 2008 onwards (www-multraship.nl)
  
  
• Fairplay Towage, established 1905 today comprises of a group of companies engaged in harbour towage in Hamburg and River Elbe ports, in German Baltic Ports, in Rotterdam as well as in the Polish ports of Swinoujscie and Szczecin. Furthermore Fairplay is involved in coastal- and deepsea towage and offshore support services. Also Fairplay expects 3 further newbuildings in the course of 2009. (www.fairplay-towage.com)

For more information contact:

Eline Muller
Multraship
+31-115-645000

Joerg Mainzer
Fairplay Towage
+49-40-37499916

Antwerp, 18th September, 2008

FAIRPLAY TOWAGE naming ceremony in Gijon

The Hamburg based company Fairplay Towage has named its latest tug new building on 16th August, 2008 - „FAIRPLAY 30“.

Fairplay 30 is the strongest in it’s fleet tug and has been built state of the art by the Spanish yard Astilleros Armon in Navia/Spain.

With an LOA of 39,00m and a width of 13,00m “Fairplay 30” and her sister “Fairplay 31”, presently under construction, will primarily trade in European waters. However these two tugs have no trading limitations and can work world wide

Two 12-cylinder ABC-engines with each 2652 KW at 1000 RPM generate the power for two fixed-propeller Schottel SRP2020 rudder-propellers, producing a bollard pull of more than 85 tons and a free-running speed of 14kn.

Two Volvo 6-cylinder-diesel-engines (Type D12D-A MG) with a power output of each 310 kw are generating the required on-board electricity. Emergency Generator Set Volvo 6-cylinder (D7A-A) power output 116 kw.

For better manoeuvrability a Bow Thruster: Schottel Type STT 110 LK (200 Kw) has been installed.

The following deck machinery enables the tug to perform a wide range of highly specialized jobs:

Brusselle Winch Fore: Hydraulic driven combined anchor windlass towing winch Model M 255/ASLH200.59/1S-2-2. Split drum with 180 m Dyneema. Pull 1st.layer 800 kN, Brake 2000 kN. Each Drum cap 54 mm, 400 m.

Brusselle Winch Aft: Hydraulic driven waterfall anchor handling towing winch Model M 256 SLH250.123/2-1-1
Full tensioning system with length and pull control. Steel rope towline length 1200 m/Dia. 54 mm. Second drum split 800/400 m /Dia. 54 mm. MBL 207 tons.
Brusselle Spare towing wire drum hydraulic driven 1200 m/54 mm
Brusselle Tugger windlass (2) Model M 257 HL 15/1-1, Pull 10 t, Brake 50 t.
Karmoy Hydraulic Towing Pins Typ 130853 SWL 160 t
Karmoy Stern Roller SWL 150 t
Karmoy Shark Jaw SWL 200 t
Palfinger Deckkrane PK32080 SWL 12,2 m / 2,0 t
Free Deck Surface appr. 100 m2 with wood protection. Deckcargo abt. 50 t.


Navigation- and communication equipment corresponds to the presently available technical standards. The tug is built according Bureau Veritas with the class-notation: „BV I + Hull + Mach + AUT UMS, TUG, FI-FI1, WATER SPRAYING, UNRESTRICTED NAVIGATION“, ICE 1C


Fairplay has ordered two further tugs with Armon. Delivery is scheduled for summer and winter 2009. These tugs will provide a bollard pull of abt. 70 tons and will primarily be employed in European ports.

Fairplay Towage operates a fleet with harbour and offshore tugs, stationed in Hamburg, Rotterdam and the German Baltic. One deepsea tug is employed in worldwide trade. Furthermore, Fairplay operates through its subsidiary BBB Schlepp- und Hafendienst in Rostock a fleet of work-pontoons. With the take-over of the Polish company “Project Zegluga, Szczecin in 2004, the acquisition of Port-Hol, Swinoujscie and the 50% participation in Multraship the activity-portfolio of Fairplay Towage has been steadily enlarged over the last years.

Hamburg, 26th August, 2008

Fairplay and Multraship join forces

Dutch towage and salvage specialist Multraship and Hamburg-based Fairplay Towage have joined forces to create a platform for expansion. Under the agreement Fairplay BV, the Dutch arm of the Fairplay group, will take a 50 percent shareholding in Muller Maritime Holding, the holding company for Multraship. The two companies joined forces in order to strengthen their strategic position and intend to expand their activities jointly.

Under the agreement Multraship will continue to be managed by the existing family board and management. Expansion of the office staff and tug crews is anticipated as the company takes delivery of new vessels and expands into new markets.

• FAIRPLAY TOWAGE today comprises of a group of companies engaged in the towage industry in Hamburg, Rotterdam, Rostock, Wismar, Swinoujscie and Szczecin. Besides harbour towage it is involved in deep sea and coastal towage, off-shore towage / support and salvage work. www.fairplay-towage.com
  
  
• MULTRASHIP. run by the Muller family, draws on more than ninety years of experience. Its core operations include salvage, wreck removal, harbour towage, coastal and deep-sea towage, services to the dredging and offshore industries and support for inland navigation. It operates and manages a fleet of tugs, salvage vessels and a floating sheerleg. Three new tugs are scheduled for delivery from late 2008 onwards. www.multraship.com

Fairplay buys Polish Towage Company in Swinoujscie

With effect of 1st July, 2008, Hamburger based FAIRPLAY Towage has taken-over 100% of the shares of the Swinoujscie-based tugowner „Port-Hol S.A.

Port-Hol S.A. resulted out of the reorganisation of the maritime activities of the Port of Swinoujscie in February 2001. Port-Hol is operating 4 own tugs and manages 1 fire-fighting tug for the local auhorities. Furthermore two floating cranes as well as various smaller maritime crafts belong to the fleet. Port-Hol’s main activities are assistances of seagoing ships in ports, coastal towages along the Polish coast as well as the Baltic Sea and Northsea, mooring and unmoring of ships and various other maritime services.

Already in 2003 – prior to Polen joining the EU - Fairplay Towage bought the Szczecin based company Project Zegluga, followed by the establishment of „Fairplay Towage S.P. z o.o“ in 2006. Fairplay’s Polish portfolio comprises primarily of assistances of seagoing ships in Szczecin and the Port of Police as well as escorting of ships on River Odra from Swinoujscie to Szczecin and vice versa. In addition Project Zegluga is running a crewing agency which is supplying Fairplay’s Rotterdam tugs with qualified seafarers. Last but not least Fairplay’s Polish tugs are frequently supporting Fairplay’s activities in other German Baltic ports.

With the take-over of Port-Hol, Fairplay will consolidate and combine the towage activities on the River Odra as well as along the Baltic coast. The well known name Port-Hol will remain to exist.

Hamburg, 01.07.08

Fairplay becomes a major shareholder in Smit Internationale

On Monday 31st of December2007 Smit Internationale and Fairplay Towage agreed that Smit will acquire Fairplay's share in their joint company URS. Fairplay will become a significant shareholder in Smit.

For Fairplay Towage this participation creates a strategic interest in one of the worlds most renowned towage providers.The transaction will give an international dimension to Fairplay's continuing European towage activities.


Fairplay Towage, Hamburg
Management
02.01.2008