Although the Dutch government, through the Dutch embassy in Brazil, was willing to make a final effort to try to get the last Hotlo diesel engine to the Netherlands, Noble Drilling has now informed the Foundation SOS Hotlo the engine is already being demolished.
Noble Drilling, the engine's owner was unable or unwilling to wait any longer for negotiation between the Dutch embassy and Brazilian customs and did not want to jeopardise its relationship with Brazilian customs.
Noble's project manager informed the Foundation SOS Hotlo, which has been trying to get the engine to the Netherlands for display in a museum since 2009, that demolition was already under way and wrote: 'I deliver this report of the destruction of the engine to you with great sadness and sympathy for the Hotlo Group.'
Hotlo Engine
Members of the Foundation SOS Hotlo traced and found the last working Hotlo diesel engine on board a drilling ship, the Noble Roger Eason, in Brazil. As the engine would be replaced, the foundation wanted to display this Stork diesel engine in a museum. The engine was lifted from the ship and ready to be transported to the Netherlands, but customs procedures were in the way of transporting the engine from Brazil.
The foundation appealed to Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs Henk Kamp, who was willing to intercede, but his efforts have now proved too late.
For the foundation, this means it must carefully consider its objectives and its future.
Picture: The Hotlo engine being lifted form the Noble Roger Eason
