Collaboration enhances tug provision at Halifax

Svitzer is to cement its relationship with Atlantic Towing Ltd, a member of the J.D. Irving Ltd family of companies, with the acquisition of two Robert Allan Ltd RAstar 3200 escort tugs currently under construction at Turkey’s Uzmar Shipyard, ensuring Atlantic Towing maintains its role as “premier operator” at Port of Halifax.

The Nova Scotia port has seen substantial growth over the past decade involving larger ships and greater demand for towage services, the new additions described as “a more robust and permanent solution” replacing the two on-call tugs that supplement the three vessels permanently stationed at Halifax.

Atlantic Towing has partnered Svitzer for 14 of the almost 20 years it has served Port of Halifax and Arjen Van Dijk, managing director Svitzer Americas, expanded on the investment: “Through a collaborative effort, Svitzer’s newbuild team, along with operations and procurement departments in Copenhagen and Panama, worked closely with Atlantic Towing to identify the best technical and operational solutions. These 85-ton escort tugs from the RAstar 3200 series exemplify our commitment to co-creating effective solutions with partners.”

Background

Atlantic Towing is headquartered in Saint John, New Brunswick with offices in St John’s, Newfoundland, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Victoria, British Columbia and Port Fortin, Trinidad and Tobago.

As well as shiphandling towage, it is active in the offshore support and supply, ice management, barge transport and salvage and rescue towing sectors. Its fleet list indicates 10 high-spec offshore support vessels and 18 tugs and workboats, including 12 Robert Allan Ltd-designed tugs and four Damen ASD 2810 tugs. It also operates four transport and construction support barges.

Founded in 1833, Svitzer is among the world’s largest tug operators and is now embarking on a new chapter in its history following establishment as an independent company and listing on Nasdaq Copenhagen.

With 456 vessels operating in 141 ports and 40 terminals and with around 4,000 employees, Svitzer’s trading statement for Q1 2024 reported revenues of DKK 1,555 million (€202 million) compared to DKK 1,424 million (€185 million) in Q1 2023 and a gross CAPEX of DKK 174 million (€22.6 million) compared to DKK 118 million (€15.3 million) over the same period.

Commencement of terminal towage contracts in Europe and Australia are stated as instrumental in Svitzer’s revenue growth.