A 62 year old lady that was still afloat since August, 2020 named PANAGIA SOUMELA at Foron Bay (Lipasmata), Drapetsona, Piraeus in Greece was seen berthed at Flagstone Wharf, Grand Harbour, Malta back to 1998 as GINISIS III.
She was launched as STRANTON at P.K. Harris & Sons Ltd, Appledore in England as yard number 114 for an undisclosed customer. In April 1959 she was named as HELEN M. McALLISTER for McAllister Towing & Salvage Inc, Montreal, Canada homeported at Montreal (CAN Flag). However, the tug was not completed before she was acquired by McAllister Towing and she was towed to Canada to be completed at Sorel, Canada. At that time she had only 1 funnel
In 1997, McAllister Towing Limited of Montreal was acquired by the Ocean Groupe Incorporated of Quebec, Canada and she was renamed as OCEAN GOLF with official number as 311751. She underwent an extensive rebuild. She was fitted with a new wheelhouse that allowed for full 360 degree visibility. She was also repowered with rebuilt, GM diesel engines. Originally, the tug was twin screw rated at 1,200 horsepower. After the rebuild, and her repowering she was rated at 2,200 horsepower. She remained homeported in Montreal.
In 1998 she was sold to Lebanese owners and renamed handmade written GINISIS III homeported in Cambodia (KHM Flag) and was seen in Malta uplifting bunkers. Once she arrived in Tripoli, Lebanon she was slipped and renamed GENESIS IV with official number as 288 and homeported in Tripoli (LBN) Flag.
During 2007 she was sold to TAINARON NAYTIKH ETAIREIA in Greece and renamed as PANAGIA SOUMELA. She was spotted on her hard with black hull in 2012 and with blue hull in 2016 at Perama, Greece. She was last spotted laid up in Greece back to August, 2020.
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Published – Friday 12th March, 2021.