One of the interesting ocean going tugs in service with the French Navy (Marine Nationale) that visited Malta was the Tenace Class Ocean Going Tug FS MALABAR A 664 assigned as a Fishery Protection Vessel during BlueFin Tuna Season 2016.
The Tenace Class were designed to tow disabled French nuclear submarines under any conditions. All three were built by the Oelkers shipyard in Hamburg and fitted out at Ateleier et chantier de la Rochelle, La Pallice and were based in Brest, France.
She was originally to be named as APPLIQUE but before launching on 16th April, 1975 her name was changed to MALABAR and was completed on 7th October 1975. She was commissioned 4 months later on 3rd February 1976 with a displacement of 925 tons standard and 1,440 ton full load.
She entered Valletta during her maiden call on Monday 23rd May, 2016 and berthed starboard side alongside Wine Wharf.
More images can be found here – https://maltashipphotos.com/photo/a-664-fs-malabar-23-05-2016/
Powered by two MAK Diesel Engines, single propeller and speed 14 knots she had a bollard pull of 60 tons. She was 51.2 long with 11.4 metres as beam and maximum draught of 5.70 metres.
Armed with 2 by 12.7 mm Machine Guns, for this mission she had an extra Zeppelin rib.
With a crew of 3o she left Valletta on Thursday 26th May bound to fishing grounds.
More images can be found here – https://maltashipphotos.com/photo/a-664-fs-malabar-26-05-2016/
Unfortunately 5 years later she was seen heading to the breakers from Brest to Le Havre towed by tug TSM KERMOR
