The Taurus: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

The tugboat 'Stumbras', operated by the Klaipeda Port Authority, finds itself without a job as two rival tug companies, KLASCO Towage Assistance and Towmar Smith Baltic, no longer require its services. KLASCO currently operates a fleet comprising three tugs: 'KLASCO-1', 'KLASCO-2', and 'Bizonas', while Towmar Smith Baltic boasts a substantial nine tugs in its lineup. Once renowned as the most formidable tug in its category, the 'Stumbras' held a towing capacity of 51.7 tons in 2010, yet it no longer ranks among the top five in the port. In fact, its counterparts, 'KLASCO-1' and 'KLASCO-2', now surpass it in power. The Klaipeda Port Authority initially acquired 'Stumbras' in 2000 to foster competition within the industry, but the financial return on this investment has yet to materialize. Between 2002 and 2008, KLASCO paid the Port Authority a staggering ten million litas for the use of 'Stumbras'. Following that period, the tugboat was leased to Towage & Marine Assistance from the onset of 2009. In August 2011, the Port Authority revealed plans to put 'Stumbras' up for lease, starting with an initial monthly rental price of 132,861 litas. The tender stipulates that the vessel can only operate within the port of Klaipeda or no more than 20 nautical miles from the harbor in the Baltic Sea. This clause may limit the tug's appeal to the two previous operators noted for renting it. With the decline in rental prices—falling from over 147,000 litas in 2008—there’s hope that new entrepreneurs may take an interest in 'Stumbras' soon.