Tugs on parade
Delegates from all over the world met in Rotterdam in April for ITS 2006, the bi-annual International Tug & Salvage Convention. In keeping with previous ITS conventions, delegates to the four-day event were treated to some light relief on the Wednesday afternoon in the form of a 'Tug Parade', hosted by Wärtsilä at the Cruise Terminal.

HMS Cornwall on hand to welcome new Padstow lifeboat
The Type 22 frigate HMS Cornwall was on hand to greet Padstow's new 16m Tamar lifeboat Spirit of Padstow as she arrived at her new home for the first time on 3 July. HMS Cornwall anchored in Padstow Bay as part of her circumnavigation of Cornwall during July. The new lifeboat was escorted into harbour by the boat she is replacing, the 47ft Tyne James Burrough, and the D class inshore lifeboat from Rock lifeboat station.

Albion on the Thames
Carrying Sea Cadets to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Marine Society and Sea Cadets, HMS Albion made her way up the river Thames on 12 July escorted by three Adstean tugs. Originally HMS Ocean was due to appear but two crew members had been diagnosed with TB and Albion was a late substitute from Plymouth.

Stena spend £70m on Harwich-Hook pair
Harwich-Hook of Holland vessels Stena Britannica and Stena Hollandica will become the world's largest ro-pax ferries next year after being lengthened by 30 and 50 metres respectively under a £70 million contract awarded by Stena Line to Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven. But the investment, also including total renewal of public areas, almost certainly heralds the end of the route's high-speed passenger and vehicle service by the HSS 1500 catamaran Stena Discovery.

Fred. Olsen takes Crown
Fred. Olsen Cruise Line has announced its acquisition of Norwegian Crown (1988/34,242gt) from NCL, only three months after introducing its fourth ship, Boudicca. She will become the largest unit in its cruise fleet and may well replace the 1966-built Black Prince. However, the ship will be chartered back to NCL until November 2007, so that it can fulfil its published commitments. After a major overhaul and renamed Balmoral, the first ship of that name to sail for Fred. Olsen, she will make an inaugural Canary Islands cruise from Dover in late January 2008 after which she will reposition to the Caribbean for a short season of fly/cruises.

These stories and many more in the September issue of Ships Monthly