Svitzer completes Brazil tug series
Danish towage provider Svitzer has taken delivery of the final vessel in a series of six tugs intended to boost its towage operations in Brazil.
With globally operated ship-handling tug fleets mostly in the hands of a small number of companies operating large fleets of vessels, usually under local ownership with local management and crews, Svitzer is among the largest with around 345 vessels and 4,000 employees providing services in 141 ports and at 40 terminals.
The local connection has continued with delivery of Svitzer Babitonga by Brazil’s Estaleiro Rio Maguari shipyard. Built to Robert Allan’s popular RAmparts 2300 design, it is the last of a series of six RAL tugs for Svitzer from Rio Maguari and follows Svitzer Atanasio, Svitzer Arthur, Svitzer Jorge G, Svitzer Monte K.T. and Svitzer Rocha Pedro, all delivered in 2023 and 2024.
The vessel is purpose built to support vital local operations assisting with harbour towage along the Brazilian coast and supporting LNG operations, Arjen Van Dijk, managing director, Svitzer Americas said.
Svitzer Babitonga is 23.2m in length and provides a bollard pull of 70t and speed 13kn. It also meets fifi1 requirements ensuring it is equipped to support Floating Storage and Regasification Unit operations, “reinforcing Svitzer’s role in safeguarding the Brazilian coast as the country’s energy landscape evolves”
Svitzer’s Brazilian operation involves 22 tugs in eight ports: Salvador, Suape, Pecem, Santos, Vitoria, Rio Grande, Sao Francisco do Sul and Paranagua.
Svitzer delisting
Svitzer is managing its day to day activities alongside its delisting from Maersk. The move was confirmed in April at an Extraordinary General Meeting in Copenhagen of shareholders in A.P. Møller – Mærsk (APMM), where the separation of Svitzer to a new company was agreed.
APMM injected 100% of its shares in Svitzer, including subsidiaries, to new company Svitzer Group, ending an era of 45 years under APMM ownership.
With the new company’s listing on Nasdaq Copenhagen, CEO Kasper Friis Nilaus said: “Every three to four minutes, somewhere in the world a ship relies on Svitzer for safe and reliable towage – be it in a busy harbour port, or essential terminal operation. We know our strength is based on the support of our valued customers and the expertise and professionalism of our people, and this moment is a testament to their contribution in our company’s strength today.”
