FFS Arion on a long tow to Turkey

February 16, 2022

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For over a month, FFS Arion has had a seismic vessel in tow heading for Turkey.

Here in Lyngdal, the journey towards Turkey begins. The seismic vessel is towed by FFS Arion.

Text: Sveinung W. Jensen, Tellus Kommunikasjon

- There was a Christmas celebration in the English Channel for the crew on board the FFS Arion, says Leif Steinar Simonsen, operations manager at FFS.

The ship that was towed is 121 meters long and 22 meters wide, and has been in laid up in Lyngdal. Now the boat will be dismantled.

- YES, IT SHOULD recycled. I do not know the background, but the steel price is high at the moment, says Simonsen.

Several of the other seismic vessels that FFS has management on are constantly out on new assignments. The ship that was towed to Turkey was exposed to a fire in 2019.

It was then taken to Lyngdal.

- WE'VE HAD some work to prepare the boat for departure. Among other things, propellers and lifeboats were secured. When we carry out such winter towing, we must take into account bad weather, says Simonsen.

FFS Arion left Lyngdal harbor on Saturday 18 December and arrived in Turkey just over a month later. The trip itself is 3500 nautical miles.

- We have worked for a long time to get such a long tow. So this is cool, says Simonsen, and adds:

- We want more of these tows.

FFS Arion is now off the coast of Tunisia. At home in Norway, a new towing mission awaits.