#BoatyardKillybegs – A pair of tugs in recent weeks have undergone overhaul work carried out at Mooney Boats, the boatbuilder, repairer and maintenance facility in Killybegs, Co. Donegal, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Tugs SMS Cian and Nomad used the services of the north-western yard that has the largest boat-hoist in Ireland, though Killybegs fleet of considerably larger supertrawlers go elsewhere. Among the drydocks used this had included Dublin Graving Docks that closed last week.

SMS Cian which operates for Sinbad Marine Services also based in Killybegs, was taken out of the water where the 30 ton bollard pull tug had seacocks removed, serviced and refitted.

In addition the 18m twin screw vessel had a stainless steel bar fitted to the top of the gunnel on the stern. The UK flagged SMS Cian was washed and painted along with new anodes fitted where required.

The rather unusual looking Nomad, having observed at Dun Laoghaire Harbour in 2009 (see below) is currently operated by Castletownbere Marine Ltd.

Work on the 10 ton bollard pull tug formerly the States of Jersey Harbour Authority tug, Duke of Normandy, involved water-blasting the deck and deckhouse in resealing the windows around the wheelhouse.

The 1972 built tug completed at Poole, Dorset, was also washed, painted and had anodes fitted to the 24m single screw vessel during her call to Killybegs.

The premier Irish fishing port is also from where Nomad previously operated for Sinbad Marine in duties asides towage but on oil spill recovery, fire fighting and as a guardship.

It was in that role that Nomad saw east coast duties off the Kish Bank, using Dun Laoghaire as a base. On that occasion the tug was on 'guard vessel' duties of Dublin Port based drillship, Fugro Synergy which carried out a series of exploratory drill wells off the Kish Bank to examine the viability of a underground coal gasification (UCG) project south-east of the iconic lighthouse.