Two new tugs have arrived in Stromness, Orkney
The tugs set off 17 days ago from a shipyard in Turkey on their non-stop voyage of 3,500 nautical miles.
This has taken the tugs through the Mediterranean, past Gibraltar, along the coast of Portugal, across the Bay of Biscay, through the English Channel, and up the east coast of Britain, before crossing the Pentland Firth and heading into Scapa Flow, according to the Press and Journal.
During their passage through the Flow, they were flanked for a time by the three older tugs that have operated from Scapa for more than 30 years.
The new tugs will replace two of the current fleet.
The design and build contract for the 32-metre tugs was secured by Sanmar Shipyards of Turkey. Each cost £6.1m.
The tugs are to be named Odin of Scapa and Thor of Scapa after a public poll, although they’ll carry their Turkish names, Kocacay and Kocacay II until they’re handed over to Orkney Islands Council following sea trials.
Read more in the Press and Journal.
