TOWLINES

The tug Vigoroso G was built in 1999 by Tommasi, Ancona and offers 46 tons bollard pull from 3,456bhp main engines, it also meets fifi1 standards and will be stationed at Port of Thessaloniki. Gigilinis’ capabilities for offering mooring/unmooring, ship stand-by and supply transportation services has also been enhanced by the addition of the mooring boat Arion G.

Boskalis has announced it is to sell its stake in SAAM Smit Towage, a joint venture formed between Boskalis and SAAM in 2014. The move was an example of the recent trend for major towage operators to establish similar arrangements and at the time covered respective towage activities in Brazil, Panama, Mexico and Canada. In joint discussions as to how to most effectively respond to the more competitive market environment, Boskalis and SAAM concluded that an outright sale of Boskalis’ share to SAAM would be most beneficial to both parties. Under the terms of the agreement, the total enterprise value of SAAM Smit was valued at USD 560m and Boskalis expects to receive USD 201m in cash for its equity stake in the joint venture.

Rolls-Royce has completed a multi-million Euro upgrade of its thruster manufacturing plant in Rauma, Finland. Rolls-Royce thrusters are regularly specified for newbuild tugs and for a range of similar vessels small and large and interestingly the company considers the upgrade will place it in a better position to facilitate markets, particularly the offshore sector which it sees as beginning to emerge from its downturn. As well as the complete rebuilding of the site’s existing hall a new 35m high hall with lifting capacities up to 200t allowing for manufacturing and testing of thrusters in all size ranges was included in the project.

Towage services provider Svitzer has announced the appointment of two cluster managing directors covering both continental Europe and the UK. Fred Jeeninga brings almost 20 years’ experience in the marine service industry including with Svitzer Americas to his new position as cluster managing director, continental Europe (Netherlands, Belgium and Georgia). Meanwhile, with almost 30 years’ experience in regional or managing director roles globally including for container line APL, UK-born Maurice McKeating has now assumed the role of cluster managing director, UK South for Svitzer.

By Peter Barker