A GIANT American oil drilling rig, the M.G. Hulme jnr arrived unexpectedly off Durban during the Easter Weekend but was forced to lie at anchor about ten miles off the port entrance. Port authorities probably had in mind the recent oil rig drama in Cape Town harbour and decided to play safe.
However, the deep sea tug accompanying the oil rig, Maersk Battler, did enter port to take on a total of 3000 tons of bunker fuel and supplies for both vessels. The crew of the rig and the tug were also able to take some shore leave before facing the next leg of their long voyage across the Indian Ocean. Bill Simpson, who is travelling ahead of the tug and rig to arrange port facilities, told FTW that the crew had enjoyed their stopover in South Africa.
The rig is on its way from Lagos in West Africa to the port of Hachinohe in northern Japan, where it will become the first non-Japanese oil rig to drill for oil in Japanese waters - the area has previously been closed to foreign-owned rigs. Drilling will take place in 3 000 ft of water off the coast.
Maersk Battler is the first of a class of four powerful, heavy duty deep water tugs belonging to the Danish AP Moller Group. The 84 metre long tug, which has a gross weight of 4363 tons and a bollard pull of 236 tons, was built in 1997. Her engines produce 20 020 BHP and give the vessel a rated speed of 16 knots.
The 5 137 mile journey to Singapore, the next port of call, will take between 35 and 42 days to complete. In good conditions at sea the two craft can average 6 knots. The ETA at Hachinohe in Japan is July 1.
By Terry Hutson
