The presence of a tanker at Dún Laoghaire’s waterfront is clearly visible while under engine repairs, but another, yet discreet, caller to the harbour is a tug that is forced to take shelter, writes Jehan Ashmore.
The tanker Wisby Wave, which arrived yesterday to permit engine repairs at Carlisle Pier, joined the tug CMS Thunderer, which had been in Dublin Port until Monday. Since then, the ASD tug berthed at St. Michael's Wharf (former Stena terminal) has been sheltering within the harbour, noting the weather windsock at the end of the pier. The 22m tug is awaiting a suitable weather window to return to operations along the UK south coast.
As Met Éireann issued a Small Craft warning from Belfast Lough to Dungarvan to Bloody Foreland with cyclonic variable winds, becoming north to northeast, will reach force 6 at times. The marine warning is in place until 21:00 today. In addition to a Status Yellow—Gale warning from Wicklow Head to Roche's Point to Slyne Head, where north-to-northeast winds will reach gale force 8 at times. This warning remains valid until 19:00 today.
The azimuth stern-drive (ASD) propulsion tug makes it highly maneuverable, particularly within the confines of ports, as the compact design and powerful engines are most useful for carrying out ship-handling duties.
CMS Thunderer was delivered two years ago, and its basic function is to carry out towing and pushing. It has an MCA Workboat Category 2 classification, and its specifications also meet the classification society Bureau Veritas.
During the tug’s duration in Dun Laoghaire, the crew has accommodation based on 2 single-berth cabins and 1 x 2 berth cabin, and the wheelhouse is also air-conditioned.
It is operated by Clyde Marine Services Ltd, Greenock, which in 2001 sold a fleetmate, the 20.8-ton bollard Battler, to the West Cork-based Atlantic Marine & Towage and renamed it Ocean Battler.
As Afloat reported in 2024, the 19m tug towed the jack-up barge Admiral 1 from Plymouth to Dublin, where the barge has remained ever since with its role in constructing the MP2 project in the northeastern part of the port estate.
Currently the Ocean Battler is back in Scottish waters, not on the Clyde but further along the west coast at the Kyle of Lochalsh (near the Isle of Skye), having arrived on Wednesday from Bangor, Co. Down.
