Full steam ahead for Freyja of Scapa

It’s been full steam ahead for the Council’s third new tug - Freyja of Scapa - since the vessel was cleared for service on Friday (28 October) by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

Following a successful MCA inspection and transfer to the UK flag, the 32-metre vessel made her way to her home base of Scapa on Saturday morning to prepare for the first operation – a ship-to-ship transfer between the Eagle Blane and the Front Polaris, which got underway on Sunday evening.

Freyja of Scapa attended at another ship-to-ship transfer early today (Monday) between the Eagle Balder and the Sola TS. The vessel is scheduled to assist a Flotta tanker on Wednesday and another ship-to-ship on Thursday.

Dougie Manson, OIC Marine Superintendent, said: “It’s been all systems go for the Freyja of Scapa since she was cleared for operations. As expected, given the calibre of her sister ships, Odin of Scapa and Thor of Scapa, the vessel has performed very well, and the Master and crew are delighted with the tug and the very high standard of finish.

“It is hoped we can have an open day in the very near future to share the new vessel with the wider public.”

Chair of Orkney Islands Council’s Development and Infrastructure Committee, David Dawson, said: “Our thanks must go to the company who built all three tugs – Sanmar Shipyards of Turkey – for these are first-class vessels, complete with modern standards of safety, stability and operational capability. They now have a proven track record of working exceptionally well whatever the demands on them may be.

“I must further commend the many additional hours of work that has been put in by the team at Orkney Marine Services, particularly Dougie Manson, to ensure this positive outcome. It’s great to see the three tugs side by side at Scapa knowing that this is another step forward in part of the OIC’s fleet modernisation efforts.

“God speed and safe sailing to all.”

The Council took delivery of Odin and Thor in September 2020, followed by Freyja of Scapa earlier in Ocober.

The new tugs play a vital role at the heart of harbour operations being used for ship handling, towing and escort. Each tug has a maximum bollard pull ahead of 78 tonnes and a free running speed of 14.3 knots.

Freyja of Scapa was built at Sanmar’s Tuzla Yard in Icmeler, Turkey.

The three new tugs replace the ageing fleet, which served the Council admirably for more than 30 years.

The Council’s Deputy Harbour Master Strategy and Support, David Sawkins, said: “We are as delighted with the quality of the new tug as we were with the original two, which have been working hard in Scapa Flow and around Orkney since their arrival in October 2020. It is already apparent that Freyja of Scapa is going to be as busy given the ongoing increased activity in our waters. The new tugs allow us to continue to move with the times, ensuring a first-class service to our clients.”

Freyja of Scapa will be officially named at a later date.