By Svitzer Australia (with a small additional contribution and editing by Shipping Australia)
Svitzer Australia, a Shipping Australia member, and a leading provider of towage services, has announced two major contract wins.
The company has been announced as the successful tenderer for a long-term contract to provide towage services for the Department of Defence, servicing the Royal Australian Navy (the Navy). Svitzer Australia has also signed a contract with the Southern Ports Authority for a five year non-exclusive towage licence at the Port of Bunbury, WA.
Naval contract
Svitzer Australia will provide towage services for Australia’s naval fleet, the management of Navy towage assets, and the development of naval personnel training in major ports around Australia. Operations being as of 01 October 2021.
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Svitzer Australia Managing Director Nicolaj Noes said: “We are honoured to be chosen as the trusted partner to provide essential towage service to the Royal Australian Navy as they undertake the vital role of serving Australia at sea.
“With our network of ports around Australia, fleet capability and experienced crews, we are well placed to provide a safe, reliable and efficient service for the Navy’s operational and strategic needs.
“Our commitment to safety at sea is a core Svitzer value and will underpin the delivery of our towage capability for Defence. We look forward to fostering a strong working relationship with Defence providing round-the-clock, responsive support to Navy vessels and personnel as they call at ports around Australia. Being part of the local community is central to Svitzer Australia’s role in the ports we operate in, and we look forward to servicing the Navy and investing in our local communities now and into the future.
“As part of our contract, we are committed to providing strong and continued support to our local communities with a focus on Indigenous engagement, leveraging our local supplier network and partnering with defence to provide employment opportunities, enriching the Svitzer workforce and enhancing industry capability.”
Southern Ports Authority / Port of Bunbury contract
Svitzer Australia’s entry into the Port of Bunbury builds on the company’s commitment to WA’s regional ports, with existing operations in Albany, Geraldton, Onslow, Fremantle and Kwinana.
To service the port, Svitzer will deploy two state-of-the-art newbuilds equipped with fifi capability. Svitzer’s entry to the port will include installing solar panels on the tug berth and the use of fuel efficiency tools to track and help reduce emissions.
Svitzer Australia’s General Manager, West, Jodie Ransom said: “Svitzer Australia is a long-standing partner of Southern Ports with its existing towage services in Albany. We are excited at the prospect of growing and developing our partnership with Southern Ports and the South West with our entry to Bunbury. We look forward to playing a very tangible role in the port, facilitating trade through the region, in turn supporting the local economy and providing employment opportunities through our operations.”
Svitzer Australia Managing Director Nicolaj Noes added: “we are pleased to add the Port of Bunbury to our network of ports around the coast, providing safe, efficient and reliable towage services to our customers calling one of the largest regional ports in Australia.
“Svitzer is committed to the future of port sustainability, and with our entry to Bunbury we will look to invest further in sustainable, energy-efficient and nature-driven power options to support our port infrastructure.”
Southern Port Authority Chief Executive Officer Steve Lewis said: “After an extensive tender process, Southern Ports determined Svitzer was best suited to meet our towage requirements at the Port of Bunbury. Towage services play a vital role in supporting port operations and assisting in supply chain optimisation. Southern Ports welcomes Svitzer’s investment in new tonnage and the benefits to the Port’s customers from this contract in Bunbury.
“Svitzer already provide towage services at the Port of Albany, and we look forward to continuing to work together to drive trade through the South West region.”
Svitzer Australia provides harbour towage services in 25 ports and terminals around Australia and in Papua New Guinea.
About Svitzer
Founded as a salvage company in 1833, Svitzer entered the towage business in 1870. The Maersk Group became a majority shareholder in 1979 and, in 2008, the company entered Australia with the purchase of Adsteam Marine.
