After a while off line we are now reachable again through a new modern website. The site is built and partly sponsored by Toscani Projects Maassluis. Now we are able to pass information faster and show pictures and movies about the tug in an easier way. We are happy with this achievement.
At the end of 2012, during the sail in of Sinterklaas in Maassluis, one of the fire tubes started leaking, resulting in a lot of steam loss through the chimney. After consulting Lloyd’s the tube in question was welded shut. Number two started leaking in September last year, after which it was decided to replace all 210 tubes after the sailing season. Quotations were requested from three companies. Our choice fell on boiler repair company Standard Fasel from Utrecht, who had the prerequisite to start repairs latest end of January . The problem was the lack of funds to finance the project.
Through Shipping News and Tugspotters a lot of attention was given to the fund raising project: “Help the Furie, sponsor a tube for € 300, -“. This was a great success as a total of 106 out of 210 tubes found a sponsor and that meant that we could pay the majority share of the bill. The remaining part was received through subsidies from: Fund Schiedam Vlaardingen e.o., the Rabobank Westland and the N.I.S.S from Rotterdam.
The fire tube sponsors are: GSS Marine Services Maassluis, IMR Alphen a/d Rijn, MarineCo LTD Scotland, Construction company Nieuwe Maten Wormerveer, Seabed Assist Singapore, J. Wolf Middelburg, H. Steehouwer Maassluis, G. Langelaar Maassluis, MBL-Holland Brielle, Klaes Visser Interim Waddinxveen, D. Pilkes Papendrecht, E. Matzinger Breda, Capt F van Slooten Estrella Maritima Albir S.A., GSS Marine Services LTD Scotland, Koffeman Consult b.v. Maassluis, Sima Charters B.V. Maassluis, E.G. van Tellingen Zeist, SeaHarbor Services Curaçao, Stichting tot Behoud Bergingsvaartuig Bruinvisch Maassluis, M. Hofman en D. Waddington Apeldoorn, Thecla Bodewes en Ton Raemakers, Appartementbuilding The Furie Maassluis, Promanent BV Maasland, van Woerkom, Nobels & Ten Veen, Sliedrecht, Transport Offshore Service Rotterdam, Foundation Maritime Heritage Maassluis, Marion Bodewes, Maarn, Mr. and Mrs. Plazier, Rotterdam, Friend of the Nieuwe Rotterdamse Sleepdienst, Huisman Equipment B.V., Schiedam, Damen Marine Components, Hardinxveld, Neptune Shipyards B.V. Aalst, J. Kroes, Maasland, Sleep – en Duwvaart, Wormerveer, Intermax Rotterdam, Crew KNRM, Lifeboat Station Hoek van Holland, M. Helwig Heemstede, Museumship Hudson Maassluis en Fysio Docwerk Maassluis.
After the funding was arranged quite rapidly, the boiler repairs could start. The old tubes were removed, the inner side of the boiler was carefully inspected and after the conclusion that all was in good shape, the new tubes could be installed. After another comprehensive inspection and a cold pressure test to 19.5 bar, Lloyds approved the boiler for further service.
At the moment it is all hands on deck to get the tug ready for sailing and this coming weekend we plan to have sea trials.
Leo Vermaas ( Secretary)