Port Kembla shipping community welcomes Svitzer Ruby

The newest member of the Svitzer Australia tug fleet was officially welcomed to Port Kembla on Tuesday, 13 August 2019.

Svitzer Ruby was welcomed in a traditional maritime naming ceremony by naming mother, Deanna Barilaro.

The Port Kembla shipping community — including Svitzer Australia crew, customers and New South Wales Acting Premier and Resources Minister John Barilaro — joined in the celebrations.

“This is the first step towards supporting LNG imports into NSW,” says Acting Premier John Barilaro.

“I commend Svitzer Australia for investing in the people of NSW and commissioning a magnificent vessel, which will serve NSW for decades to come.”

Svitzer Australia Managing Director, Nicolaj Noes, says:

“Svitzer Australia is pleased to invest in Port Kembla, supporting jobs in the Illawarra region, playing a role in diversifying the port with critical infrastructure and readying it for potential new gas imports.”

“Svitzer Ruby will boost the capability of the port, assisting larger vessels to enter its waterways and playing a critical role in facilitating trade in New South Wales.”

Svitzer Ruby is named after Ruby Moore — a famous local resident and Post Mistress during the 1920s and 1930s. The name was chosen by Svitzer crew and employees in Port Kembla.

The 85-tonne bollard pull tug was designed by reputable Canadian naval architecture firm, Robert Allan Ltd and built in Turkey by UZMAR.

Svitzer Ruby is an escort towage capable vessel featuring a render recovery winch, FiFi1 class notation for firefighting, an Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) operational protection package and a rear winch for over the stern towing operations.

The proposed new gas terminal would accommodate LNG carrier ships, a floating LNG handling facility, wharf infrastructure and a pipeline to connect to the existing New South Wales east coast gas network nearby.