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AHTS ITC CHINOOK has been contracted for the towage of Panamax bulker CONTI SERPENTIN from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Setubal, Portugal. The 225 meters long bulker sustained grounding damage to its propeller and is being towed with the rudder removed. Challenging conditions as this results in significant sheering of the tow.
The Marine Warranty Surveyor decided to tow the vessel on its anchor chains since the fairleads of the vessel were too small for the heavy bridle chains of the ITC CHINOOK. With a skeleton crew onboard the tow, the CONTI SERPENTIN was brought on stream by local harbor tugs after which Captain Gerrit Verweij connected up. Mid January 2012, the convoy sailed from River Plate for the 5300 miles towage to Setubal, where the CONTI SERPENTIN would enter dry dock for repairs.
Picture of tow courtesy Capt Gerrit Verweij
