Wednesday 3 November 2010

S.A.WOLRAAD WOLTEMADE

WOLRAAD WOLTEMADE
Ship No 516
The Daddy of them all when it came to powerful mighty tugs working the world’s oceans.

Small Ships
The “Z” Tug S.A.WOLRAAD WOLTEMADE was a real thoroughbred and she looked like the ship that she was, unlike today’s even more powerful square and squat looking tugs.

She was a sister ship to one that was built in South Africa and launched a bit later than the WOLTEMADE.

The order for this ship was from Safmarine who where contracted to set up two powerful ocean going salvage tugs to be stationed off the coast of South Africa ready for any emergency at a time when the worlds oil had to be routed around the Horn of Africa due to the Suez Canal being closed to ships.

She was 2822 gross tonnes, with a length between perpendiculars of 85 metres, with a beam of 15.2 metres, and a design draught of 8.6 metres.

She was launched from the Leith Shipyards of Robb Caledon on 23rd of April 1976.

She was to drop the S.A. part of her name when Safmarine were taken over by Smit’s.

You will soon be able to read all about this mighty vessel on the new website, which will be online soon.

If you are looking for books on ships and the sea then look no further.



3 comments:

Jose said...

One of the most impressive and beautiful tugs ever built,it had it all,
power,efficiency and great elegance,it reminds me a bit aesthetically
of Bugsier´s "Oceanic"tug,I personally like this one evermore,well deserved the name it received!...

Jose said...

A small observation on a personal level,was the withdraval of the
rear "derrick",both in the "Wolraad Woltemade"as well as in the "John Ross",I think this element gave them even more image of power and excellence,it was one of the things that impressed me the most about "John Ross"when I had the oportunity to see him in the early 80s in the
port of Santander,in Spain...The "Wolraad Woltemade",sadly i never saw it,but,I imagine ir would be the same feeling...Even with their new image,they were equally impressive,there were never tugs as beautiful as those of yesteryear,I know you logically have preference over "Wolraad Woltemade",of course!,thank you again for remembering!...

Anonymous said...

her counter part - sa john ross - john ross - sa amandla departs for the breakers end oct 2023 - and has been renamed iconic 9