The following pictures and account were kindly supplied by Captain John Klejn of Antwerp.
ZWARTE ZEE
Built: 1963 at J. & K. Smit's Scheepswerven N.V., Kinderdijk, Holland.
Tonnage: 1, 530g.
Engines: Two SMIT-M.A.N. Turbo Diesel, 9, 000 HP, 18 Knots.
Length 77.5m, Breadth 12.35m, Draught 6.90m.
Possibly the most beautiful and certainly the most famous tug in history, the arrival of the Zwarte Zee was on a par with the arrival of Kate Adie. (Television News War Correspondent)
From October to December of 1979 Smit Rotterdam and Smit London towed the biggest dry-dock ever built from Gothenburg in Sweden to Murmansk, Russia. It was also the most daring tow ever, since the tugs and their charge had to pass the 'Lofoten' known for severe weather conditions in wintertime. Both tugs were the strongest in the world with 22, 000 HP and a bollard pull of 180 tons each. It seemed that there was a dispute at the time between Smit International and the dry-dock insurers. Smit argued that it wanted to stay well away from the coastline pointing out that if the tow parted it would have ample time to reconnect a spare towing wire. The insurance company however demanded that Smit stay close to the coastline so that in the event of adverse weather conditions they could seek shelter and ride out the storm, the insurance company won the day and the tow proceeded hugging the coast.
Initially all went well passing Lofoten uneventfully but on arriving at the North Cape the tugs and tow encountered severe weather conditions, with no shelter to run to the tugs sterned on to the swell and attempted to ride out the storm. During the ensuing storm the towing wire (9" thick) on one of the tugs parted and a short while later the second tug's wire parted also. The dry-dock then started to drift out of control towards the rocky coastline travelling at approximately 6km per hour, several attempts were made to attach the spare connection but on each occasion the painterline snapped. The dry-dock by now was quite close to the shore and it was inevitable that she was going to run aground, workers who were onboard the dry-dock were airlifted by rescue helicopters and the tugs stood by as the giant dry-dock crashed ashore.
After the storm had abated Zodiac's travelled to the dry-dock to inspect for damage and discovered that she had a 120 metre gash along her double bottom.
The Smit London headed back to Rotterdam for new towing wires, specialist equipment and provisions for both tugs. Meanwhile further equipment and 500 sacks of cement were flown to Murmansk and from there transported by helicopter to the stranded dry-dock. The Smit Rotterdam was able to ease the dry-dock off the rocks and slowly tow it to a fjord nearby at Kirkness and temporary repairs using the cement were affected.
SMIT ROTTERDAM
Built: 1975 in Holland.
Tonnage: 2, 273g.
Engine: 22, 000 HP. 16.5 Knots.
Length 75m.
Built for Smit International BV and at the time of completion was the largest and most powerful tugboat in the world. She was built with bulb stern and stern nozzle.
Drydock after running aground.
By now the Smit London had returned carrying not only the spare wire but huge mobile pumps which were required to keep the double bottom dry, water was already seeping through the massive cement boxes installed. Before the tugs commenced the journey back to Stort in Norway, some 1, 500 miles.
A leading Dutch newspaper and TV station installed reporters and cameras aboard the tugs to record the tow back to Norway. Also for safety's sake a Meteorologist was aboard to predict day to day weather conditions. The enterprise was only given a success rate of 20% by the media, in their opinion it was virtually impossible to tow the crippled dry-dock the distance required in the weather conditions prevalent in this part of the world during winter.
All went well until the two tugs and their charge were abeam of Trondheim. The Meteorologist informed both Captains that they were about to encounter severe weather conditions and it would be prudent to seek shelter as quickly as possible. With all haste the tugs made for the Frondheim Fjord and managed to reach it without a minute to spare. The storm rose in its severity, so much so that the tugs and dry-dock even at full power began to drift towards a marina close by near Trondheim. The damage would have been tremendous if the dry-dock had crashed into the marina so the tug Captains radioed for assistance. Four harbour tugs arrived from Trondheim and turned the dry-dock into the gale sending the direction of the wind through it as opposed to against its forty-metre high sides. Fortunately with the assistance of the harbour tugs the dry-dock was held on station until the storm subsided and Smit London and the Smit Rotterdam were able to continue their journey arriving at Stort safely. After leaving their charge at the shipyard the crews of both tugs were rewarded by Smit International who threw a huge party at the finest hotel available. The dry-dock was eventually repaired and towed to Murmansk without further incident during the spring.