SS American Star Tow: 25 year anniversary

25 years ago the American Star set out on its faithful journey, headed for Thailand. She was towed by a tug called Neftegaz-67. Before this tow, preparations were made for the ship to set sail again after 13 years of being laid up. They checked her hull, which turned out to be in extremely good condition, despite being covered in sea life of all sorts, they took off her brass propellers, and stored them on her bow, because they would cause drag. They painted a layer of grey paint over her bow, something i don't actually know why they did, but they did. (Apparently it was some form of protection or drag decreasing paint?) Then they began the two on Christmas Eve, 1993. But the giant beast this little tug was towing was constantly overtaking the tug or bashing the it and so they headed back to sort this out... and they laid her back up in Greece for a while. then on New Years Eve, 25 years ago, in the early hours of the morning they set off again, but not before adding a floating anchor to the ships stern as so to 'tame' her. And so off they set.