Posted on July 1, 2020
Svitzer has announced three contract extensions and a new towage service provision agreement demonstrating the global reach of major tug operators.
Svitzer is one of a handful of major shiphandling tug owners who have expanded globally connecting their towage expertise with specialist knowledge of local employees.
In 2007 Svitzer commenced towage services at Sakhalin II, Russia’s first LNG gas plant. With the contract up for renewal Svitzer has signed a ten-year extension with Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd effective from November 2020. Four TundRA 3400 ice class tug: Svitzer Aniva, Svitzer Busse, Svitzer Korsakov, and Svitzer Sakhalin along with two mooring boats all operated by 58 Russian crew and nine shore staff provide support services at Prigorodnoye.
In Canada Svitzer has renewed a contract dating from 2010, providing shiphandling and safety standby services from three tugs at NuStar’s Point Tupper oil storage site. The facility, the deepest independent, ice-free marine terminal in Atlantic North America provides two berths for vessels up 350,000dwt and AIS data currently shows the Svitzer-owned tugs Svitzer Bedford, Svitzer Montreal, and Point Chebucto in attendance at Point Tupper.
Moving south and still in the Americas region, a three-year extension has been agreed to Svitzer’s marine service contract with GTI Statia, one of the largest independent crude and refined product storage terminals serving the US Gulf coast and Caribbean markets.
The contract involves two tugs supporting GTI Statia’s storage facility including berthing and unberthing of tankers on the island of St Eustatius, an operation comprising 60 commercial tanks and extensive marine infrastructure in addition to the tug and barge contract Svitzer holds to support the terminal’s operational needs. Among the tugs located around the island are a series of Zamakona Spain-built ASDs built in 2007 and 2008.
Moving to the African continent, a five-year extension has been agreed for Svitzer’s contract with Egyptian LNG to assist the land based Idku LNG plant, an operation involving four tugs, two mooring boats and one pilot boat.
Finally in what is described as “an important step towards strengthening its presence in Africa” Svitzer has reported signing of a five-year contract with Nacala Logistics in Mozambique for harbour towage, pilot transfer and potential salvage work in the port of Nacala.
On the African continent, Svitzer is now operating in Egypt, Angola, Morocco, Liberia, and Mozambique.
By Peter Barker
Source: maritimejournal
