"BISMARCKSTEIN" - IMO 6819740/During the early nineteen seventies the American marine construction company Brown & Root were laying pipelines in the southern sector of the North Sea. The joints of pipes were coated in bitumen and some of this work was carried out at plants in the Netherlands. The company chartered this and other coasters to transport the coated pipe from the Netherlands to Great Yarmouth for trans-shipment by supply ship to the pipe-laying barges.Many thanks to Jamie Goodman for scanning |
"BUTJADINGEN" - IMO n° 6901660/Quest in the early days of North Sea oil exploration and the rig's supply vessel was North Shore. When the rig was due to change location someone thought it would be a good idea to use the North Shore to lift the rig's anchors even though the ship was not powerful enough to perform this task. The first time this happened it was found that North Shore's bow slewed as the anchors were being raised. In an attempt to counter this the tug Butjadingen was chartered to keep North Shore's bow in line whilst the anchors were recovered. This went on for a while but it was soon realised that more powerful vessels were needed for this operation. The evolutionary course of the offshore oil industry must be strewn with such Heath Robinson problem solving schemes.Observers in Grimsby will recognise this tug as Jadi.Many thanks to Jamie Goodman for scanning this image|