Farmar Ares undergoes major service in Denmark

Text: Sveinung W. Jensen, Tellus Kommunikasjon

Farmar’s latest addition to its tugboat fleet, the powerhouse Farmar Ares, has undergone its Special Survey – the mandatory ten-year inspection.

In dry dock in Hirtshals, the vessel was thoroughly examined from keel to bridge, with inspections, measurements and tests far more extensive than a routine check.

"IT WAS A complete inspection and a full overhaul of all machinery, the hull, generators and propellers. The electrical system is also reviewed, and all tanks and the bottom plating of the hull are thickness-measured. All safety equipment on board is checked as well,” says Managing Director John W. Nilsen.

For a tug, the ten-year survey is about answering the most important question of all: can it still handle the job it was built to do?

ALONG THE WAY, the underwater hull and sea chests are inspected, the rudder and propulsion system are checked, and critical spaces and tanks are opened up and examined. The goal is for the vessel to meet class safety requirements and be ready for new assignments without unpleasant surprises.

At the same time, Farmar took the opportunity to paint the vessel in the company’s livery and refurbish some of the cabins. The interior layout was adjusted, and several cabins were enlarged.

“WHEN WE ALREADY have the vessel in, it makes sense to carry out improvements that both increase comfort for the crew and make the vessel even more functional in operation,” says Nilsen.

The technical side was also addressed. The main engine was overhauled, and servicing was carried out on the winches – effectively the “arms” of a tug when it is towing, holding back or escorting large vessels.

FARMAR ARES was built in 2016, yet still has relatively low running hours on its propellers compared with many others in the market. The vessel is designed for offshore operations and equipped to stay on station for extended periods without needing to return for bunkering.

With substantial fuel capacity and high bollard pull, this is a boat built to deliver when operations get demanding. As soon as the Special Survey was completed, the trip home followed quickly. Farmar Ares made only a brief call at the base in Farsund before setting course straight for a new job in Kristiansand.