Union Princess

Former coastguard tug, previously known as the MV Anglian Princess, is on her way to Stornoway - to join the oil rig salvage operation it is believed.

Smit has called in the workhorse vessel - now called the Union Princess - to assist.

The 67-metre anchor handler departed Rotterdam on Thursday evening. She is due to arrive in Lewis on Sunday.

The Princess is operated by Boskalis, the parent company of the salvage firm.

Former coastguard tug despatched from Holland for rig removal operation

11 August 2016

Boskalis

She was sold by her former operator, J P Knight, when the UK Govenment, axed the UK-wide emergency towing vessel contract in 2011.

She may be relieving one of the other vessels commandeered for the salvage of the stricken semi-submersible stuck on rocks at Dalmore, Lewis.

Four other large offshore tugs are in Lewis following the for the incident. The MV Olympic Orion and MV Union Bear - also under Smit in-house ownership - are berthed in Stornoway awaiting salvors' instructions.

Coastguard tug Herakles is presently standing off Dalmore.

The rig’s towing vessel, Alp Forward, which got into trouble in severe weather while pulling the platform down the west coast of the Hebrides is alongside the pier in Stornoway.