On Saturday 27th June 2015 the 1979 built LNG gas carrier BACHIR CHIHANI being towed was photographed from the air by MALTA SHIP PHOTOS around 40 miles offshore Malta.
On Tuesday 23rd June, 2015 the Algerian flag and owned gas carrier was reported adrift off Lesvos Island, Greece in the Aegean Sea after an engine failure. She was built in France by Constructions Industrielles De La Mediterranee Du Havre at Le Havre homeported at Alger, Algerian (DZA) flag.
Two tugs, the 1990 built ALEXANDER 3 and the 1965 built AEGEON PELAGOS were dispatched to assist the vessel that developed engine problems during her return to Arzew ,Algeria from Eregli ,Turkey.
AEGEON PELAGOS was built in UK at the Cochrane Shipbuilders Selby as the Swedish HERAKLES for Bergnings-og Dykeri A/B Neptun of which she was sold to Goteborgs Bogserings & Bargnings A/B and renamed DAN in 1968 still flying Swedish (SWE) flag. In 1974 she was acquired by the Royal Navy as a support vessel of the Fishery Protection Squadron in the North Sea as HMS WAKEFUL A 236 of which she was decommissioned on 30th October 1987 and in June 1988 she was sold to the Greek firm Hellenic Salvage Tugboats and renamed to her current name.
ALEXANDER 3 was built in Germany at the Neue Jadewerft in Wilhelmshaven and homeported at Athens with Greek (GRC) flag. She holds a 52 ton bollard pull.
BACHIR CHIHANI was towed to Malta , anchoring Hurd Bank awaiting orders to enter at Palumbo Malta Shipyards.
Watermarked Photos are by Capt. Lawrence Dalli. Do not use these images without my permission. © All rights reserved. Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos – www.maltashipphotos.com
Published – Saturday 25th July, 2020
