Svitzer wins Ichthys towage contract

Svitzer Australia has announced that it has been awarded a 10 year contract to provide towage, as well as other marine services, to the Ichthys LNG project. The project is operated by INPEX and is located in the Port of Darwin, Australia.

The contract, which can be extended to up to 19 years, will see Svitzer supply four high-power Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) escort tugs to help LPG, condensate and LNG carriers in and out of the Port of Darwin once the onshore processing facility is operational in late 2017. Two existing vessels and two new-builds will comprise the fleet.

In addition to towage services, Svitzer will supply the following: safety and standby (i.e. a tug that can be quickly deployed, regardless of what time or day it is); emergency and environment incident response; fire-fighting; support for INPEX’s marine infrastructure maintenance work; as well as salvage operations in the port. Furthermore, at the East Arm Wharf, Svitzer will build a new tug base and will expand its local workforce.

Mark Malone, the Managing Director of Svitzer, said: “Having already secured contracts with Chevron and PNG-based Oil Search, we are very pleased to add INPEX to the list of global energy suppliers that rely on us to keep their vessels moving. Indeed, our concerted efforts over recent years to take advantage of new opportunities in the offshore oil and gas industry are paying dividends.

“Securing this major contract not only cements Svitzer’s position as Australia’s leading provider of safe, reliable towage services, it’s also a vote of confidence in the expertise and professionalism of our local Darwin crews, which was integral to the success of our tender.”

Kasper Friis Nilaus, the Chief Commercial Officer, said: “This contract supports our global growth strategy of securing long-term agreements for provision of advanced towage and other marine services to the oil and gas segment, and is proof of our status as preferred towage supplier to LNG terminals.”

Edited from press release by David Rowlands

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquefaction/10122015/svitzer-wins-ichthys-towage-contract-1751/