Multi-million pound tug boat sails into Portland Port

Managers from Portland Port have splashed out £2.6million to buy the tug boat from Hull to help manoeuvre ships and cruise liners into place at the port.

The port, which has just celebrated its busiest year for cruise liners, now has a fleet of three tug boats allowing it to accommodate ships that weigh more than 130 tonnes.

The boat, which is also fitted with jets meaning it can tackle fires if they erupt on board ships, made a 40-hour journey from its previous port in Hull to its new home in south Dorset.

It was renamed as the Rufus Castle boat at a special opening ceremony hosted by south Dorset MP Richard Drax and other dignitaries, joining the other tugboats Wyke Castle and Maiden Castle.

Captain Michael Shipley said: “We are delighted that we now have the Rufus Castle supporting operations here at Portland.

“This increases our capacity to handle some of the larger vessels when otherwise we were restricted by the available bollard pull and prevailing weather.

“The addition of the Rufus Castle to the port’s other two tugs Maiden Castle and Wyke Castle increases our capability to tug in excess of 130T.”

Now that it’s in operation, it will now immediately start undertaking towage and offshore support services.

MP Richard Drax, who officially opened the boat in a naming ceremony at the port, said: “The good news is that this tug is needed because of the port expanding, and more and more ships are coming in.

“This is going to generate more business and more employment for local people, which is obviously great news as the port is already a big part of the local economy of south Dorset, and of course Weymouth and Portland.

“The port’s managers would not have invested a lot of money into the boat if it wasn’t needed. The port has been managed astutely for many years and they wouldn’t have bought it if it wasn’t essential.

“It is very good news and hopefully the port’s success will continue.”