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Displaying items by tag: Beaufort & Shackleton

#Towage - In reporting news from Cork in December, at first glance the appearance of a tug surprisingly seemed to strongly suggest that of a Dublin Port tug, however this was clearly not to be, writes Jehan Ashmore.

As a pair of Dublin Port Company tug sisters, Beaufort and Shackleton sport a green hull likewise of Stevns Breaker. This transpired to be the tug of 70 bollard pull (bp) that was acquired by Cork based Doyle Shipping (DSG), a ships agency and logistics group. See report photo here, though upon closer inspection this tug does not feature distinctive brown exhaust pipes as of the Dublin pair.

It was during mainstream media coverage of the homecoming of L.E. Samuel Beckett from humanitarian mission in the Mediterranean, that this tug was seen employed in her new role. Also in attendance of berthing the OPV90 vessel was Rushbrooke based fleetmate Breedbank.

Since Afloat's report, Stevns Breaker has been renamed DSG Titan, becoming the first vessel to use the rebranded name DSG. The Doyle Shipping Group (DSG) name was introduced in late 2015. Previously they were Burke Shipping, a name widely known throughout Irish ports.

Prior to the renaming, the tug had served for Svitzer and under two names as referred in the towage news. The large towing group includes operations with the Port of London Authority, see recent report and photo of Svitzer London underway on the Thames. The estuary ports under control of LPA have reached record trade not seen since the financial crisis of 2008.

DSG Titan also shares the same year of build as of the 2010 built Dublin Port tug pair (see Ships Monthly, June issue that year). The Beaufort and Shackleton have each a 50 (bp) capability.

The sisters in tandem despite yesterday’s strong winds, demonstrated under the skill of their crews in towing the replica 19th century tallship, Jeanie Johnston. The famine-emigrant museum barque became the final ship to use the dry-dock in the capital. 

This involved a short passage in shifting berths on either side of the North Wall Quay Extension. The quay divides Alexandra Basin and that of the Liffey from where the tallship is temporary berthed.

Also keeping these tugs busy where larger commercial ships which were dispatched due to strong winds which notably battered Dublin Bay. Among the ships seeking assistance while berthing within the port was a ropax ferry from France.

Published in Ports & Shipping

The Half Ton Class was created by the Offshore Racing Council for boats within the racing band not exceeding 22'-0". The ORC decided that the rule should "....permit the development of seaworthy offshore racing yachts...The Council will endeavour to protect the majority of the existing IOR fleet from rapid obsolescence caused by ....developments which produce increased performance without corresponding changes in ratings..."

When first introduced the IOR rule was perfectly adequate for rating boats in existence at that time. However yacht designers naturally examined the rule to seize upon any advantage they could find, the most noticeable of which has been a reduction in displacement and a return to fractional rigs.

After 1993, when the IOR Mk.III rule reached it termination due to lack of people building new boats, the rule was replaced by the CHS (Channel) Handicap system which in turn developed into the IRC system now used.

The IRC handicap system operates by a secret formula which tries to develop boats which are 'Cruising type' of relatively heavy boats with good internal accommodation. It tends to penalise boats with excessive stability or excessive sail area.

Competitions

The most significant events for the Half Ton Class has been the annual Half Ton Cup which was sailed under the IOR rules until 1993. More recently this has been replaced with the Half Ton Classics Cup. The venue of the event moved from continent to continent with over-representation on French or British ports. In later years the event is held biennially. Initially, it was proposed to hold events in Ireland, Britain and France by rotation. However, it was the Belgians who took the ball and ran with it. The Class is now managed from Belgium. 

At A Glance – Half Ton Classics Cup Winners

  • 2017 – Kinsale – Swuzzlebubble – Phil Plumtree – Farr 1977
  • 2016 – Falmouth – Swuzzlebubble – Greg Peck – Farr 1977
  • 2015 – Nieuwport – Checkmate XV – David Cullen – Humphreys 1985
  • 2014 – St Quay Portrieux – Swuzzlebubble – Peter Morton – Farr 1977
  • 2013 – Boulogne – Checkmate XV – Nigel Biggs – Humphreys 1985
  • 2011 – Cowes – Chimp – Michael Kershaw – Berret 1978
  • 2009 – Nieuwpoort – Général Tapioca – Philippe Pilate – Berret 1978
  • 2007 – Dun Laoghaire – Henri-Lloyd Harmony – Nigel Biggs – Humphreys 1980~
  • 2005 – Dinard – Gingko – Patrick Lobrichon – Mauric 1968
  • 2003 – Nieuwpoort – Général Tapioca – Philippe Pilate – Berret 1978

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