Oil & Gas in the Falklands

Everyone will have noticed the increased tensions between the United Kingdom and Argentina recently in relation to the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). First Britain was sending Prince William on a tour of duty there, then they were sending the new Royal Navy ship HMS "Dauntless", and this week we heard that a whole Westminster committee is soon due to visit the Islands. Argentina has reported the UK to the United Nations for its 'militarisation' of the area and has, along with some of its neighbour states, blocked Falklands-flagged vessels from entering its ports.

Much has been made of the fact that this year signifies the 30th anniversary of the Falklands conflict and this has been cited as a possible cause of the ratcheting up of tensions in the region. However, it seems that the more likely cause is the dramatic change in the Islands' value as an economic asset, after recent discoveries of generous oil deposits in the Isalnd's waters.

In today's Sunday Times (19 February 2012, Business Supplement, Page 2) they report new research from a City investment firm which shows that the Islands could generate a huge fortune from new oil finds currently beginning to be exploited / prospected by a number of firms: 'THE Falkland Islands could eventually reap $ 177 billion (£ 122 billion) in tax and royalties from oil production ... ' they report.

This figure represents almost $ 58 million income per head of population (currently pop. 3,100), an enormous income for the Islands where at present each resident pays an average of around $ 5,000 a year in taxes to the revenue (which is far exceeded by the cost to the UK of servicing and defending the islands).

A Brief Guide to Tugs and Towing

Tugboats are small but very powerful vessels which were developed to specifically assist other vessels (by pushing or towing them from a to b, moving them around in canals or harbours, fire fighting etc.). 


Today they are more advanced than ever and can perform a multitude of tasks but the basic construction of a simple harbour tug remains broadly as the following diagram. You will notice a towage rope for assisting other vessels and heavy 360o fendering (the tyres)

TERMINOLOGY
- A tug is always a boat, and not a ship. The craft began their lives as relatively small vessels and so will forever be categorized as such, even though today many are very large vessels.
- A tug tows other vessels using a towage or towing line (when a piece of rope is used) or a wire (when some form of metal rope is used).

TYPES



General Harbour Tugs - The most common form, they perform a multitude of general assistance tasks around ports and harbours. Generally small and do not venture far from the harbour or port limits.


SDMs (Ship Docking Modules) - These are very specialised little tugs used to help moor other small vessels, normally yachts, in tight marinas. Because they need to be so versatile and gentle with their charge they look a little bit like padded floating saucers.


Ocean-Going Tugs - These are much larger tugs used to tow vessels over a long journey in potentially hazardous seas.


AHTS (Anchor Handling Towage Supply) Tugs - These vessels provide support for offshore structures in the energy industries, both old and new. They are specially built to be able to raise huge anchors belonging to offshore rigs, tow vessels and platforms where necessary and carry supplies out to them.

CONTRACTS


For a look at the principal contracts involved in Towage work see this article.