A flash animated archive is also available, illustrating on a world map a selection of major operations performed between 1981 and 1999.

The fourth tug of the Svitzer 'M' series ( Maritime Journal December 2004) Svitzer Muiden arrived at Ijmuiden on the 20 December 2004 to operate with the Svitzer-Wijsmuller shiphandling fleet in Amsterdam and on the North Sea Canal. A second tug of the same series Svitzer Marken is due for delivery to the same fleet next month.

Svitzer Marken will be the first of six tugs of the same type but with more powerful Caterpillar main engines giving a bollard pull of 70 tonnes.

On 9 January the tugs Flying Phantom and Point Gilbert from the Scottish fleet of Svitzer Marine Ltd successfully refloated the ferry European Highlander , working in conjunction with Wijsmuller Salvage . The 21,200gt ship, on route from Larne to Cairnryan with 100 persons onboard, was driven ashore while entering Cairnryan in force 12 gales the previous day.

European Highlander received no major damage and the passengers and crew remained safely onboard throughout the incident.

Antwerp based towage company URS has sold the shiphandling and coastal tug Wandelaar toPolish operator Jan Stepniewski & Co Gydnia . Built in 1971, the 33m, 2000 bhp vessel was originally designed for offshore and salvage work in the North Sea. More recently the tug, and sister-ship Westhinder , had azimuthing stern drive propulsion systems fitted in one of the few such conversions carried out in Europe. Under its new owners the vessel will bear the name Jaguar and replace the smaller single-screw 'Combi' tug Irbis .