Abeille-Mediterranee

The 'Abeille Méditerranée' entered the Toulon naval base on July 7. After several months of transformation at TKMS/GNY in Kiel, the former supply vessel, which has become one of the most powerful tugs in the world, will carry out sea trials before celebrating its baptism on July 1. The vessel was acquired in 2021 by Les Abeilles International to be transformed into an assistance and salvage tug, and will take over from the 'Abeille Flandre', which has been in service for more than 40 years. During the transit to Toulon, sea trials to validate the operational towing and helicopter hoisting capabilities of the 'Abeille Méditerranée' have been organized and will allow the entry into service under the orders of the maritime prefect of the Mediterranean. After her baptism on July 1, the tug, one of the most powerful in the world, will begin an inaugural tour on the Mediterranean coast which will take her from Nice, Cannes, Marseille, Sète, Port-la-Nouvelle or even Ajaccio and Bastia. Report with photo: https://www.premar-mediterranee.gouv.fr/communiques-presse/le-nouveau-remorqueur-abeille-mediterranee-est-arrive-a-toulon

While the emergency tug 'Abeille Normandie' will be christened at the end of June in Le Havre, her sister-ship, the 'Abeille Méditerranée', has just finished her conversion work at the German Naval Yards in Kiel and arrived in Brest on May 30, 2022. These two intervention, assistance and salvage tugs (RIAS), belonging to Abeilles International and chartered by the French Navy, will respectively replace the 'Abeille Languedoc' in Pas-de-Calais and the 'Abeille Flandre' in Toulon. The 'Abeille Normandie' is currently finishing her sea trials aimed at her admission to active service. To be adapted to their mission of assistance and rescue, their rear has been closed. Hangers and specific equipment for the passage of rigging in degraded conditions have been installed. Two MOB Boat type intervention canoes were also added. These charters will bind Les Abeilles to the French Navy for ten years and relate to an amount of 120 million euros. Report with photo: https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/la-conversion-du-remorqueur-abeille-mediterranee-est-terminee