Svitzer celebrates ten years in Angola

Svitzer’s operations in Angola centres around the ALNG terminal at Soyo and the CABOG oil terminal offshore Cabinda where its tugs have been operating since 2018. It was in 2011 that Svitzer commenced work at Soyo and currently a team of 132 crew and onshore staff operate the two locations and while the vessel fleet and personnel composition has changed over the period Svitzer states the level of service has been consistent without any vessel delays since 2011.

Shiphandling tug operations are largely of a global nature nowadays with a handful of major operators providing contracted services at individual ports and terminals worldwide. A popular aspect of establishing such tie-ups is whereby local crews can be utilised thus providing employment opportunities locally and described by Svitzer as ‘key’ in delivering the marine services.

The absence of a large seafaring community in Angola presented ‘a bit of a challenge’ prior to setting up the operation in 2011. With a determination however to train as many Angolans as possible an arrangement was established whereby they had to follow a programme on the training ship Danmark where cadets undertook extensive training both afloat and onshore to learn seamanship and the value of safety and teamwork. Svitzer states it continues to benefit from the investment to this day, reflected in the fact that earlier this year the 300th LNG cargo was loaded safely at Soyo.

Svitzer’s experienced crews now have the knowledge to safely navigate the small channel in Soyo where the current from the Congo River makes berthing and un-berthing ‘a rather complicated exercise’. Svitzer Angola is thus able to combine its in-depth local knowledge with its position as being part of a global company.

AIS data at the time of writing suggests seven Svitzer vessels operating at Soyo in Angola. Svitzer Angola, Svitzer Soyo, Svitzer Padrao and Svitzer Zaire are consecutively yard-numbered 82tbp, 33m tugs built by Qingdao Qianjin Shipyard in 2011. These are supplemented by three smaller support vessels comprising the Damen Gorinchem-built Stan Tugs 1606 Svitzer Figo and Svitzer Pululu each providing 16tbp and the Colchester UK-based Alnmaritec built ‘Wave Pilot’ class pilot cutter Svitzer Conda.