A vessel that demonstrates Svitzers growing international approach to the procurement of new vessels very well is the Svitzer Bedford christened in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the 3 November. The azimuthing stern-drive (ASD) coastal and shiphandling tug was constructed in Chile, for use by Eastern Canada Towing Ltd (ECTUG), a subsidiary managed by Svitzer Marine Ltd in the UK.

Svitzer Bedford is a heavily built vessel of 370 gross tonnes and classed; Lloyds 100 A1 Tug, Ice Class 1. c Hull, LMC, FiFi1(WS) UMS. The vessel was constructed by ASENAV in Santiago under the stringent requirements of Transport Canada and Lloyd's Register of Shipping and delivered to Canada under her own power.

The highly manoeuvrable new tug is equipped with a comprehensive array of modern navigational equipment and is now the most powerful vessel in the ECTUG tug fleet. With an ice strengthened hull of 32.50m in length and 11.00m beam the vessel has a maximum draft of 4.80m. As one would expect the hull is heavily fendered at bow and stern with good protection also on the forward shoulders and on either side. The underwater form is typical of many current ASD tugs, of basically double chine construction with a deep box keel and chamfered transom.

Two Caterpillar 3516B HD main engines, running at 1600rev/m, generate a total of 4,890bhp to power a pair of Schottel SRP 1215 CP fully azimuthing propulsion units - incorporating controllable pitch propellers. On trials Svitzer Bedford achieved a maximum static bollard pull of 63 tonnes and a free running speed of 13.5 knots.

Towing gear is proved fore and aft. Two single-drum towing winches manufactured by Ibercisa are installed, one on the foredeck and one aft. Both winches have a maximum brake holding capacity of 180 tonnes.

A quick release tow hook is also fitted aft for emergency/ secondary use. Svitzer Bedford is also equipped with a comprehensive fire fighting system, meeting the FiFi1 international standard.

On her arrival in Halifax, after her lengthy delivery voyage, the tug was immediately incorporated into the local operational schedule assisting ships in the Harbour.

ECTUG General Manager Doug Harding said at the christening ceremony; "Our tug fleet in Halifax, now enhanced by our new vessel, the Svitzer Bedford, is a demonstration of our commitment and determination to assist in the continued development and expansion of the Port of Halifax.

We are very proud to welcome her to our fleet."

Very shortly after the introduction of Svitzer Bedford in Canada another ceremony was held at Greenock, Scotland, to christen the newly delivered Svitzer Mallaig and Svitzer Mull.

Both are further examples of the Lithuanian built Svitzer 'M' class tugs almost identical to the Svitzer Milford, the first of the series delivered to Svitzer Marine Ltd in Britain late in 2004 (Maritime Journal - December 2004). A third tug of the same series, Svitzer Maltby, arrived in Britain during November and is now on station in the Tees.

These 'M' series vessels are from an order for 10 tugs of the same basic type built by the Baltija Shipyard in Lithuania, intended to reinforce Svitzer fleets around Britain, Europe and Scandinavia. All ten are ASD vessels of 30.3m in length overall, with a breadth of 11.5m and maximum draft of 4.8m, classed Lloyds Register +100 A1, TUG, FiFi1 (2400m 3)Waterspray, +LMC, UMS, IWS.

The first four tugs of the series were powered by medium speed MAK 6M25 main engines producing a total of 4890bhp driving a pair of Rolls Royce US205 CP fully azimuthing propulsion units but the remaining six, including this latest trio to arrive in Britain, have high speed main engines.

Svizter Mallaig, Svitzer Mull and Svitzer Maltby have more powerful Caterpillar 3516 diesels delivering 5842bhp at 1600rev/min for a higher bollard pull of 70 tonnes towing ahead, 65 tonnes astern and a maximum speed of 14 knots. The arrival of this new tonnage in ports served by Svitzer enables further reductions to be made among the older vessels in the fleet and redeployment of others.