Boluda Towage Europe assists Allseas' Pioneering Spirit

Boluda Towage Europe assists Allseas’ Pioneering Spirit with transfer and transport of Shell’s Brent Alpha topside

Boluda Towage Europe has successfully assisted Allseas with the transfer and transport of Shell’s Brent Alpha topsides after the removal of the structure by Pioneering Spirit.

Boluda Towage Europe’s powerful tug “VB Kracht” was involved in the assistance of the cargo barge Iron Lady during the transfer of the topsides from the Pioneering Spirit to the Iron Lady and the tow of the barge to the Able UK decommissioning yard in Teesside, North East England.

After the removal of the Brent Alpha platform, Pioneering Spirit transported the Brent Alpha topside to a nearshore location off the Hartlepool coastline, where the platform was transferred from the Pioneering Spirit to the Iron lady. This transfer was assisted by Boluda’s VB Kracht and three other tugs, which took over the Iron Lady in order to bring it under the Brent Alpha platform in the slot of Pioneering Spirit.

On 24 June 2020, Boluda’s VB Kracht, together with three tugs, towed the Iron Lady, loaded with the Brent Alpha topside, out of the slot of the Pioneering Spirit into the river Tees, for the transport to Able UK’s decommissioning yard and arrived by early evening.

With the entrance channel to the Able UK decommissioning yard being narrow and tidal restricted, this final part of the journey required in-depth towage expertise and powerful, versatile tugs.

The towage operations were carefully prepared in close cooperation with Allseas. Thanks to great collaboration between the tug crew, Tees pilots, Kotug Tow Master, Allseas team and Shell, we can look back on a job well done.

The 44-year old Brent Alpha has been delivered to Able UK’s Teesside decommissioning yard for dismantling and recycling. Read more about the Brent Alpha removal project: www.allseas.com

Photo courtesy: Tug Master VB Kracht Richard van Vliet / Tow Master Bas van Hoorn / Able UK