Solent Towage, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ostensjo Rederi of Haugesund, Norway and have been responsible for towage and line handling services at the Esso refinery terminal at Fawley for some 15 years. The Fawley tug fleet normally comprises the Tenax , stern drive tug 'Thrax', and tug workboats 'Asterix' and 'Ibex'. Phenix was added to the fleet temporarily to afford some additional capacity and undertake other work within the Ostensjo fleet when required.

Although it is unlikely that all three of this trio of Voith escort tugs will remain at Fawley, Solent Towage took the opportunity to stage a welcome parade for the new Apex.To commemorate this significant arrival the whole UK based fleet met the newcomer in formation with a display from their fire monitors. Included in the display were the existing tugs Thrax, Tenax and Phenix, and the smaller Asterix and Ibex. The entire fleet, including all three Voith tractors, are registered under the UK flag. It is understood that one of the trio is already committed to spend some time in Ireland and Norway as a relief for other tugs in the Ostensjo organisation, working at other oil terminals while routine maintenance is carried out.

Apex, Phenix and Tenax are purpose designed Voith tractor tugs of 37m in length built by Astilleros GondanSA of Figueras, Asturias, Spain to a design conceived by Robert Allan Ltd in cooperation with Ostensjo’s technical consultant Carl J Amundsen. Two Rolls-Royce Bergen C25:33L8P main engines produce a total of 6,850 bhp to power a pair of five bladed Voith Schneider propulsion units of the very latest type. All three are fitted with the unique Voith ‘Turbo Fin’, a device incorporated in the leading edge of the skeg designed to increase the amount of lift when operating in the escort (indirect) towing mode. The tugs have a static bollard pull of 67 tons and a maximum free running speed of 15 knots. Maximum steering forces, while operating in the indirect (escort) towing mode at 10 knots are 150 tons and a similar figure for maximum braking force.