The Wijsmuller Group, through its subsidiary Cory Towage Limited (now renamed Wijsmuller Marine Limited) has been awarded a contract to provide marine services at the Ash Shihr oil export terminal in Yemen for Canadian Occidental Petroleum Yemen. The Wijsmuller contract, which commenced on 1st June, involves the provision of a specialist multipurpose support vessel, a line-handling tug, operation of a pollution control vessel and maintenance of the Single Point Mooring (SPM) buoy both above and below the water.

The Ash Shihr terminal handles crude originating inland. This is piped to the terminal storage tanks from where it is pumped to loading tankers at the single point mooring buoy located three miles offshore. The crude is normally destined for ports in the Far East. The SPM is capable of handling the largest of tankers and regularly receives vessels of 300,000 dwt.

During loading operations, which can last for more than two days, the multipurpose vessel Riyan (5331 bhp) attaches a tow line to the stern of the tanker to hold her clear of the SPM. The line-handling tug Al Hami delivers personnel and equipment to the tanker and then handles the hoses during the berthing operation. The new contract requires the maintenance divers to be based offshore. Riyan has a diving compression chamber aboard and her facilities have been upgraded to accommodate a total crew of 19 including 5 divers. The water depth, at 45 metres, is within the limits of air diving. Both vessels provided by Wijsmuller for the contract underwent modifications to meet contractual requirements.