Old reefer ship aborts tow of fire-damaged tanker

RAY SMUTS
IT MUST have been an unusual sight to behold; an old reefer ship towing a fire-damaged tanker from West Africa around the Cape of Good Hope, even though chances were something had to give – and it did.
Somewhere off Mossel Bay the reefer ship, the Honey, developed engine problems and had to discontinue her tow of the tanker Sadaf while the Smit salvage tug Woltemade stood by.
The Sadaf was then ordered to proceed beyond the 100 nautical mile limit, towed in the direction of the Mozambique channel by the Offshore Maritime Services vessel Toto.
Once the Honey’s repairs have been effected, she will again take up the Sadaf tow to India where both are to be scrapped.
Meanwhile another salvage tug, the Smit Amandla (formerly John Ross), has taken the tow of a bulk carrier, the Azure, which suffered a rudder problem while sailing from Brazil to the Far East with a cargo of soya beans.
The port of Cape Town, intent on becoming a major player in the servicing and repair of oil and gas supply vessels, received another boost last week when the brand new, state-of-the–art oil rig, Development Driller No 1, arrived straight from the builder’s yard in Singapore.
The self-propelled rig with a crew of 86 is taking on bunkers before continuing her voyage to the US Gulf.