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Market News

Norway

T

commits to the ShipArrestor

he Norwegian Coastal the drifting ship. The helicopter then flies

Administration (Kystverket) has upwind and drops the ShipArrestor and
signed a contract with Miko
its towline into the sea where the package

opens to release a parachute-shaped sea Marine to become the first national

anchor that immediately creates the agency to purchase the ShipArrestor
resistance needed to turn the ship’s bow system – designed to help protect the

into the wind.
coastline against pollution and other
hazards caused when ships lose engine Once the ShipArrestor is in the water

power and drift before running aground. it also has the immediate effect of
The two packages are due for delivery preventing the severe rolling motion that

this summer and feature sea anchors that can be so damaging to the ship and to
can be deployed on ships by helicopter.
any crew remaining onboard. By slowing

the rate at which the ship will drift By dramatically slowing the ship’s
towards the shore, the ShipArrestor rate of drift, the ShipArrestor creates

increases the time available for an more time in which it can be reached by

emergency towing vessel (ETV) to reach a rescue tug. If a vessel loses power in
it. The tug is then able to pick up the sea mid-ocean and is in no immediate

anchor and line and tow the ship out of danger of grounding, a ShipArrestor can
danger. This is seen as particularly be used to turn it into the wind. This will

valuable for countries where a reduced prevent the dangerous rolling that has
ETV availability means that longer been responsible for ships such as the

passage times may be needed for the Prestige and the Erica breaking-up due what can be achieved when different
nearest tug to reach the drifting ship.
to the stress of lying side-on to the waves.
countries and organisations combine

their skills to address a problem that is The development of the The ShipArrestors were developed in
faced by every one of us. Norway has ShipArrestor now means that even in Oslo, Norway, by salvage specialists Miko

become the first to adopt the system but extreme conditions, a connection can be Marine which led a consortium of eight
we are confident that other maritime restored with a ship that is drifting European organisations partly funded by

administrations will follow suit as they without any crew onboard. This is the European Union. “We have been

realise that their own coastal economies achieved by a helicopter lowering the very pleased with the outcome of this
and natural resources face the same risks chain loop of a ShipArrestor around the project,” said Nicolai Michelsen, General

from pollution and loss of life.” winches and bollards on the foredeck of
Manager of Miko Marine. “It shows
I

2014 Issue 60 The SHIP Supplier 61