Great additional info Jan, thank you.
regards
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

Hi Alda, the former Bugsier- tug BALTIC had no sister vessels.
She arrived under her last name ATLANTIC RESCUER ~ September 2004 at Walvis Bay under tow due to shaft bearing problems (there was an arcticle “Defiant” to the rescue . . .” in Lekko International nr. 149 September/October 2004). In ~2005 she was spotted abounded at anchorage. At an unknown date she moved to a pier as (as can be seen on the pictures here on shipspotting taken of her at Walvis Bay) . Later than 2011 she was dismantled there, the exact date is unknown.
Before all that she was spotted 2003 at Dubai, pls. see linked doc., page 12:
http://newsletter.maasmondmaritime.com/pdf/2004/009-27-01-2004.PDF

Hi Alda, I hope that the BALTIC is more fortunate and her fate is more clear than the OCEANIC which has been languishing at Palumbo shipyard for quite a long time without any work being done on her transformation to a superyacht, it seems she is fast becoming a super white elephant.
regards and thanks
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

Hi guys! Do any of you know if the bugsier tug Baltic http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=334479
has any sisters (and if so if they are still afloat) or if she her self is still afloat? My fav classic tug :)

Yes Jan, the OCEANIC is registered in Nassau, Bahamas. I got to photograph her from across the harbour at Floriana and the port of registry can be clearly seen.
I will post the photo later on.
regards
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

HiJan,
as her stern view is not available yet , I cannot confirm or not your comment, unfortunately I am still confined at home due to a severe bout of flu, has been since Christmas eve. Maybe when I am feeling much better (at the moment I feel like a wet rag doll) I will try to photograph the vessel from across the harbour at Floriana Bastions.
Best regards and wishes for 2017
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

Hi Emmanuel, as she is flying Bahamas flag I assume port of registry is Nassau. Apparently - as AIS data and databases like seaweb/equasis.org still show ORKA SULTAN (…) - change of name and flag seems not to be registered by the flag state authority/ classification society in charge yet.

Hi Jan, those two photos of OCEANIC are now 18 months old, and she was reg. in Liberia with a Turkish name, but now has reverted to her original one ,but I cannot vouch for her port of registry as her stern is hidden in photos taken from Senglea.
Thanks Jan, best wishes to you and your loved ones for the new year 2017.
Regards and thanks for the friendship
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

Hi Ste, I was awaiting more clear weather to go to Floriana bastions to see if it possible to photograph her for a more whole picture, but now that the weather has cleared with sunny ,18 c. weather ,I am down with a severe cold and flu, nose dripping, aching all over, coughing ,eyes watering ,confined to bed, you name it. So it means this probable photo must wait.
Best regards and best wishes for the new year 2017 to you and all your loved ones .
regards
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

Hi Emmanuel!
You're right, a more unobtrusive rebuild would meet my desire too. But anyway, the vessel survives and still resembles those large tugs of a bygone era of ocean salvage.

2x photos of her taken 31st of July 2015:
http://ship-photo-roster.com/ship/orka-sultan#1
http://ship-photo-roster.com/ship/orka-sultan#2

Thanks for the info Jan, very much appreciated. Cheers.

Thanks Jan very comprehensive info on these versatile vessels.Most appreciated.
Thanks and regards.
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

Hi Emmanuel,

Bugsier had by far more han 10 oceangoing salvage tugs, the 2 biggest sisters vessels were
OCEANIC (IMO 6901490) and ARCTIC (IMO 6926024, today IMO 1006207)
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2569222

Followed by 4 smalller sisters tugs called the „middleclass“:

WOTAN (IMO 7125847), sank in 1990
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1329116

SIMSON (IMO 7232729), converted to a yacht
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2345880

TITAN (IMO 7349065), sold to Vietnam Navy, renamed to HQ 960 TITAN
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2065413
She is he only vessel not converted

ATLANTIC (IMO 7360679), sold, renamed to KHOZAM and converted to a tender boat/yacht
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2234903
She must be some where moored in Piraeus waiting for a buyer…

Jan ,that link mentions the KHOZAM, is she a sister ship to the OCEANIC and her other 2 sisters? How many other tugs of this design were built and which were they and do you know if all are still afloat ,converted or not?
Seasonal greetings to you and all your loved ones Jan.
regards and thanks
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

Thank you Juergen for the link, lot of info re this ex-tug conversion to yacht. Must have cost millions, but the owner now has power and also beauty (though I still see her as like a heavyweight boxer in tuxedo)
regards and thanks.
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

Actually it was planned of converting her when she was decommissioned and laid up in Bremerhaven end of 2010/beginnng 2011 when her job was taken over by a new building which was built for the purpose of an emergency towing vessel only: http://www.charterworld.com/news/87-explorer-yacht-oceanic-conversion-icon-yachts-seas

@Emmanuel,
members are talking about the wonderful photo, but ships history you find here:

http://www.superyachts.com/motor-yacht-3133/lone-ranger.htm

Rgds.
Juergen

Thanks miraflores for the link, but my German is limited to Guten tag, and a couple of other words, so I could not understand much of the information.
Wishing you Merry Christmas and a happy , peaceful and healthy new year 2017 to you and all your loved ones.
best regards
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

Hi @Emmanuel.L

Former Bugsier tug SIMSON has been coverted to LONE RANGER, new IMO 1004900
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=493216

Rgds. Juergen

Yes SteKruBre, it is always great when a ship is extended her life through conversion etc. But in humble opinion if she will be converted like her sister ship the ARCTIC, her looks as a yacht leaves much to be desired, at first glance you are seeing a large tug. Her interior is totally different matter.
Happy Christmas and an equally happy, peaceful and healthy new year 2017 to you and your loved ones.
regards
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

Hi vokstar, my only knowledge is that the ARCTIC (ARCTIC P) has been converted to a yachtin Malta and the OCEANIC will follow suit, but I don't know the fate of their sister ships, maybe some member will oblige with this info. Merry Christmas and all the best for the coming new year for you and your family.
regards
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

A yacht-conversion - that's good news! She will survive at least :-)

Am I right in thinking, other than one that was lost, all the Sister tugs have now been turned into Yachts? Be interesting to see what they come up with for Oceanic.

Hi Mike ,I don't know if this possible, many of the dockside cranes have not been moved in months, so it is more possible that the vessel moves than the crane does.
regards and Merry Christmas and a Happy and fruitful new year 2017

..interesting old tug, Emmanuel.

Maybe another photo tomorrow after the crane jib has moved....!!!

Thanks Clive,had to move to the edge of the bastion to try to get as much of her as possible, quite dangerous with all the wet and crumbling stonework, sheer drop from this height ....I must be a bit mad at 71 just to get a photo....hope my wife and son don't see these pictures.
Thanks and regards.
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

I think it is a great picture with lots of interest. This is the way in which we see ships rather than in those seemingly perfect and uncluttered situations.

The best I can do, but will try to capture her in a different angle in the future.
Thanks and regards
e
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

Thanks for sharing