OLBIA. After two cruise ships, the MSC Orchestra (twice) and the Marella Explorer 2 (once), failed to enter the port in just one week due to the wind but also of the lack of a second tugboatthe commander of the Port Authority of Olbia, Giorgio Castronuovomet with the leaders of the Sardinia Sea Port System Authority to analyze the causes (and look for possible solutions).
In particular, as reported by Olbianova, last April 23 and May 3, the MSC Orchestra, now close to entering the port, had communicated to the Coast Guard Operations Room that it wanted to give up mooring “in consideration of the particularly intense wind and the absence of a second tug that could assist in the maneuver“.
In essence, in today’s communication from the Maritime Directorate we learn that “Maritime Authority and AdSPwith the precious contribution of the venue Pilot Corps he was born in Mooring Grouphave been in talks with the company for some time now Moby SpA. concessionaire of the towing service (the contract will expire in 2032, ed), in order to evaluate the adaptation of the tug fleet to the changed operational needs of the port of Olbia”.
This means that for the “safety in port” factor the presence of just one tugboat, as has always been the case in Olbia, is no longer enough. The ships, not only cruise ships but also scheduled ships such as Fantasy itself and Fantasy Legacy, are so large that they need at least two tugboats to ensure mooring and exit maneuvers on the White Island, especially in bad weather conditions. criticism, in complete tranquility.
“The consultation procedure with the parties involved was started a few months ago – the Maritime Directorate states – in consideration of the increase in the frequency of extreme atmospheric phenomena (mistral wind, above all, with gusts of up to 45 knots) and the increase in the size of ships mooring in the Gallura port”.
The Moby company shared the concerns expressed by the parties involved, Maritime Authority, AdSP and technical-nautical services, and made itself available to stem the emergency with the redeployment of a tugboat coming from another port in Sardinia, ensuring, at the same time , maximum commitment to the definitive solution to the problem.
“The safety of the port is an absolute priority for us – declares commander Giorgio Castronuovo -. Security as a generator of value, as the added value of a landing place. It is an essential component of every production process because a safer and more professional port is certainly more attractive for large investors and capable of attracting new traffic and consolidating existing ones”.
