COPENHAGEN, 22 November 2021 – Svitzer, leading global towage operator and part of A.P. Moller-Maersk, has today announced that after conducting a successful pilot, it will convert its whole fleet of 10 tugs in London and Medway to be powered by marine biofuel.

Replacing marine fuel oil with the carbon neutral biofuel enables Svitzer to offer a new towage solution – Ecotow – to its customers, unlocking about 90% CO2 reduction in Scope 3 emissions from their towage operations. The company is offering Ecotow both directly in London for customers whose vessels require towage services on the Thames, and for global customers by giving them the opportunity to inset fossil-fuelled towage elsewhere in their value chain. Svitzer achieves this by calculating the emissions impact of towage operations for Ecotow customers and matching this impact with a volume of biofuel to be delivered to the London-based fleet.

Initially, Svitzer’s five tugs serving the Isle of Grain LNG terminal in the Medway, have been running entirely on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) biofuel since 15 November 2021. The move confirms the operational viability as well as the commercial and environmental value of using biofuel in the towage sector.

Commenting on the news, Nicola Duffin, Commercial Director, Grain LNG said: “We are delighted that the Svitzer fleet servicing the terminal will be running on biofuel. Grain LNG is proud to be working with a partner committed to making the necessary investments to reduce emissions. This is an important step towards achieving carbon neutrality in the sector.”

By January 2022, all 10 of Svitzer’s tugs in London will operate using HVO biofuel, expanding the Ecotow offering even further. The decision to scale up biofuel use across the London fleet follows the successful completion of the industry-first biofuel trial onboard Svitzer Intrepid, which has been running on biofuel since September 2021.

Commenting on Ecotow, Lise Demant, Managing Director for Svitzer Europe said: “This is an exciting and big step towards the decarbonisation of towage. Ecotow enables us to offer our customers an opportunity to reduce their Scope 3 emissions and their environmental footprint, either by procuring towage services delivered by tugs fuelled with biofuel, or by ‘insetting’ carbon emissions from tug jobs elsewhere against savings generated in London and Medway.”

Svitzer considers HVO a crucial first step in the roadmap towards a carbon neutral towage sector, a requirement increasingly being driven by customer demands. Today’s announcement will enable Svitzer to responsibly expand the Ecotow offering to more of Svitzer’s global operations.

Commenting on the potential of biofuel on tugs, Sven Lumber, Head of Ecotow at Svitzer, added: “It is only sensible that we look to scale up the use of biofuel at the right time in line with helping our customers to navigate their decarbonisation trajectories. The transition to wider adoption of alternative fuels in towage will ultimately happen faster if customers are accepting of the technology and understand the cost/benefit balance, so we remain committed to testing solutions that will work for them.”

The Ecotow product exclusively uses sustainable second-generation biofuels. These fuels are produced using waste material such as used cooking oil as feedstocks and are certified by ISSC or RSB. Relative to marine diesel, these biofuels reduce carbon emissions by 100% on a tank-to-wake basis and about 90% on a well-to-wake basis.

Maersk, Svitzer to develop carbon-neutral methanol fuel cell tug

COPENHAGEN, 09 NOVEMBER 2021 – Svitzer, A.P. Moller – Maersk’s world leading towage operator, has signed an agreement with Robert Allan Ltd, leading naval architect company, to design the world’s first fuel cell tug for harbour operations, running on green methanol. The project builds on close cooperation between Svitzer and Maersk with the aim to jointly explore the combination of methanol fuel cells, batteries, storage/handling systems, electric drives and propulsion units as a carbon neutral alternative to the conventional fossil fuelled propulsion train.

Commenting on the agreement, Ingrid Uppelschoten Snelderwaard, Global COO, Svitzer, says:

“Fuel cells will be applicable as main propulsion power for tugs earlier than for larger vessels and further, the time to build a tug is significantly less than for a container vessel. Svitzer will obtain valuable knowledge and operational experience handling fuel cells as an alternative to diesel or pure electric power. We consider this project a significant step in Svitzer’s ambition to lead the decarbonisation of towage and an important contribution to the joint efforts to develop solutions with a positive impact on the environment.”

Svitzer and Maersk are working closely together to determine technologies that support the overall Maersk decarbonisation journey. The objective is to extract and apply knowledge and operational experience of methanol feasibility from the near shore small scale tug onto larger ocean-going container vessels.

Commenting on the collaboration, Ole Graa Jakobsen, Maersk Head of Fleet Technology, explains:

“Fuel cell technology could be a disruptor in the maritime technology space, promising high efficiencies and eliminating the need for substantial amounts of pilot ignition fuels while removing harmful emissions. Thus, we have been monitoring the technology for the last few years, and with the accelerating developments in the ‘Power-to-X’ arena, it has become evident that we should step up our engagement in fuel cells, especially in combination with Green Methanol.”

The 80 tons bollard pull newbuild tug with escort notation will come with a hybrid electrical propulsion system solution where fuel cells can be dimensioned to deliver a specific amount of sustained bollard pull using fuel cells alone, adding additional power from the batteries during the short but often frequent peaks that characterises towage. The fuel cells can be used to charge the batteries when the tug is mobilising and when the tug is berthed, minimising the need for expensive shore side charging facilities. The combination of fuels cells and batteries will deliver a self-sustained tug with longer endurance and with less operational constraints than a pure battery powered vessel.

Jim Hyslop, Director of Project Development, Robert Allan Ltd, adds:

“Robert Allan Ltd. is very excited to be working with Svitzer on the development of this new tug design. It is refreshing to work with an operator with such a progressive and forward-thinking attitude and this move towards drastically reducing tug emissions is a bold step. By taking the lead with this technologically advanced project, Svitzer and Maersk are making true and meaningful progress towards a greener future in the tug industry. Robert Allan Ltd. is proud to be a part of this team and we look forward to the challenges and opportunities that this innovative vessel will bring.”

The fuel cell tug will function as a pilot design for future Svitzer newbuilds and is planned to be put into operation within the Svitzer Europe region by Q1 2024.

Pictured: Svitzer Global COO, Ingrid Uppelschoten Snelderwaard and President of Robert Allan Ltd., Mike Fitzpatrick

Svitzer strengthens service in Northern England with acquisition of new tug

Named after a crew member’s daughter, Svitzer Eleanor will reinforce the company’s operations in Northern England, becoming the eighth Svitzer tug servicing the Humber.

COPENHAGEN, 2 November 2021 – Leading towage operator Svitzer has announced the purchase and renaming of the Immingham-based tug Innovation, following the end of a chartering agreement for the vessel from Damen Marine Services. After the acquisition, the three-year-old vessel was renamed to Svitzer Eleanor and its ownership officially passed to Svitzer. Svitzer Eleanor will follow the naming theme of fellow tugs in service in Immingham, including Svitzer Josephine, Svitzer Kathleen and Svitzer Laura.

The name Svitzer Eleanor was picked by and named after Eleanor Wright, the daughter of Training Master Sam Wright, who has worked on board the tug since Svitzer first chartered the vessel from Damen. After the paperwork was completed, six-year-old Eleanor Wright and her family were invited on a vessel visit which included inspection of the bridge and the engine room, along with treats at the at the Captain’s table.

The 75.3-ton bollard pull Damen RSD Tug 2513 is a solid, compact tug with high manoeuvrability; qualities that make the vessel ideal for servicing customers on the large tidal estuary waters of the Humber. With a length of almost 25m and a beam of over 13m, Svitzer Eleanor’s propulsion system includes two MTU 16V 4000 M63L main engines which can power the vessels to speeds of up to 13kt.

The vessel, which is completely insulated and accommodates four people, carries a sound absorbing ceiling in the wheelhouse and includes floating floors. The superstructure is mounted to reduce noise levels, with the aim to improve working conditions on board and increase crew welfare and comfort.

Svitzer Eleanor joining Svitzer’s fleet on a permanent basis is a reflection of the company’s continuous fleet renewal program. The move further strengthens the already-robust service that the company offers on the Humber, one of its key hubs in England.

Commenting on the announcement, Ita Dickson, Cluster Managing Director UK North, Svitzer Europe, said: “Svitzer Eleanor will play a crucial role in further enhancing our operational capability in Northern England and will help us to solidify our position as the leading towage services provider in the Humber for the long term. The acquisition of this tug is proof of our commitment to the region.

“We are also extremely excited about the involvement that our crew, and specifically Eleanor Wright, have had on the naming process of Svitzer Eleanor. We always aim to be a valuable, positive part of the communities where we operate, and seeing the interest that the new tug has sparked among the crew’s children and families is very special to us.”

Svitzer wins Tugowner of the Year 2021 Awards

At the inaugural Tug & Salvage Awards 2021, which took place at the biennial TUGTECHNOLOGY conference in London, Svitzer was awarded Tugowner of the Year 2021 for the rapid scaling of our fleet and market share in Australia, Brazil, Europe and south east Asia.

The award is given to a company, which above all other companies has shown excellence in the operation of its ship(s) and has, in the past year, demonstrated an exemplary record of achievement in the management of one or more of the following areas: business development, safety, quality, efficiency, environment and sustainability.

Commenting on the award, Svitzer CEO, Kasper Friis Nilaus, said:

“I am super proud and honoured that Svitzer has been awarded Tugowner of the Year 2021. This award goes out to all of my 4,000 dedicated colleagues at sea and shore, who everyday work hard to deliver safe, reliable and efficient marine services to our many customers around the globe.”

A big congratulations to all the winners at the Tug & Salvage Awards 2021.

Pictured at the TUGTECHNOLOGY conference: Kasper Karlsen COO Svitzer Europe, Lise Demant MD Svitzer Europe, David Ayres Port Manager Southampton, and Evangelos Fragkoulis Chief Technical Officer

Below the waterline being ignored as a prime lever in shippings drive to decarbonise

Fuel consumption delta between a clean, smooth hull and a one with significant degradation can be as high as 8% – making hull performance central to achieving decarbonisation goals.

COPENHAGEN, 26 October 2021 – Leading global towage operator, Svitzer, has today highlighted the need for the shipping industry to prioritise hull performance and standardisation in hull management practices in its drive to decarbonise. Recently, the company has established a new Hull Performance Services business unit, Svitzer HPS, to support its customers to increase operational efficiency and reduce their environmental footprints.

While shipping companies invest millions of dollars in engine technology and real-time performance monitoring, focus on holistic hull performance is arguably being lost, Svitzer argues. The company also posits that while the industry is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on hull coatings to both drive down its operational expenditure whilst also maintaining environmental, social & governance (ESG) goals, it might not be tackling the root causes of performance degradation below the waterline.

There is a poor understanding of the immediate impact that good hull performance can have on fuel consumption and emissions, Svitzer said, particularly compared to its relative simplicity and cost-effectiveness.

Recent research from the Green Ship of the Future coalition indicated the average delta in fuel consumption between a well-managed and poorly managed hull is as much as 8%, the equivalent to hundreds of thousands of dollars per year in bunker fuel costs. Fuel is already the single largest operational cost for a vessel owner and operator, but hull performance will take an even more central role once new, low carbon future fuels become mainstream, as their cost could triple an owner’s fuel bill.

The picture is further complicated by a patchy and fragmented market for assessing hull performance, with most hull cleaning or inspections service providers traditionally unable to operate at the required scale to support customers across the global shipping industry.

Henrik Sanglen, CEO, Svitzer Hull Performance Services, said: “Current hull inspection and performance operations are fragmented and localised, even for global ship operators. This means applying and translating outcomes and recommendations from hull inspections across a global fleet can be extremely challenging. With the availability of many new solutions promising more efficient ship performance, ship owners need to have a global, standardised understanding what is happening under the waterline of their hulls.

“Technological advances like using remote operated vehicles (ROV) for inspection offer the opportunity to collect standardised data on hull fouling. They also lower the cost and time required for the activity, allowing for more frequent inspections, and filling in data gaps that can be used to support other digital tools used in performance analysis.”

Gareth Prowse, Head of Decarbonisation, Svitzer, added: “Good hull performance is a low hanging fruit for an industry desperately in search of solutions to decarbonise whilst also minimising costs. We are talking about clean technology-equivalent savings at a fraction of the cost; savings that will only become more relevant as fuel bills increase over the coming decade.

“Perhaps more important is what good hull husbandry says about our ambitions as an industry. With consumer and customer pressure increasing, prioritising hull health and minimising the impacts of biofouling may well become part of our sector’s societal ‘license to trade’, meaning that there is no better time than today to find out what is happening beneath the waterline of your fleet.”

Svitzer’s new Hull Performance Services business unit has been created in response for the need for global, standardised information on hull health. Svitzer HPS is initially launching by offering ROV-based underwater inspections in four key global ports: Algeciras, Rotterdam, Gibraltar and Panama.

About Svitzer Hull Performance Services

Building on Svitzer’s footprint as leading global towage operator and part of Maersk, Svitzer Hull Performance Services offers value to the hull husbandry segment with standardised, transparent and impartial underwater inspection services. We put our customers’ hull health needs in focus as their go-to partner towards decarbonisation.

What lies beneath: viewing the hull as a prime asset

JOIN THE WEBINAR 4th NOVEMBER: Going below the waterline in an era of tougher environmental compliance and ESG standards.

When: Thursday, 4th November, 2:00 PM (GMT +01:00) Copenhagen

70 percent of the total resistance to a vessel’s movement comes from friction between the water and the hull.

And yet – in an era where shipping faces a race to simultaneously decarbonise and digitalise and where owners are challenged to achieve environmental compliance and meet new ESG demands from cargo owners and financiers, most of the hull is rarely seen and is often an overlooked strategic consideration.

So, what lies beneath? As the use of data from sensors on vessels becomes more prevalent and advanced, often enabling real time decisions from shore on how the engine is optimised or for weather routing, there is a raft of corresponding information from below the waterline that is missing. The hull to some degree has been abandoned and arguably, emissions, fuel consumption, and cost levels left to rise unabated. While this is not true unilaterally, there is still much work to be done to ensure that one of the key levers of change for shipping remains, on the whole, firmly in focus.

With the implementation of EEXI and CII, as well as non-regulatory efficiency drivers becoming increasingly influential, this panel will ask:

Has the significance of good hull husbandry to efficient vessel operations been lost as new, exciting, innovative clean technologies emerge?
Does the industry focus too much on engine efficiency versus hull efficiency?
Do ship owners and operators really know the true efficiency of their vessels and fleets?
How can the shipping industry better understand what is happening under the waterline and access that standardised insight?
How important is hull maintenance to meeting tougher environmental regulations, navigating new ESG standards and cutting fuel costs?

Learn from panellists including:

Gareth Prowse, Head of Decarbonisation, Svitzer
Henrik Sanglen, CEO, Svitzer Hull Performance Services
Garry Noonan, Head of Transition Technologies, Ardmore Shipping

More speakers announced soon

Choose your career path at Svitzer

Your career at Svitzer is exactly that, your career. As our team spans across the globe, we want to highlight the many different pathways in which a career at Svitzer can take and the dedicated colleagues who have carved their way.

There is no set program or journey, it’s a mix of opportunities and choice, and can be defined by you, your ambition and dedication. Your leader is there to guide the way, support your goals and if you look for the opportunities, there is no telling where your career will take you. We reached out to various colleagues from Americas, Europe, Australia and AMEA, and each person took the time to talk about their very different experiences.

Today, we introduce Peter Hermansson, Cluster Technical Manager for Scandinavia.

“I always knew I wanted to work with tugs, as I find them fascinating and interesting,” said Peter Hermansson, who started working at the Swedish company, Röda Bolaget, in 1991. The company was acquired by Svitzer in 1995 and he has stayed with the company ever since, marking his 30th anniversary last month, in September 2021.

For Peter, it has been a long journey within the company, with vast experience working in very different roles. His career pathway started out in the salvage department, doing salvage of vessels and wreck recovery offshore, as well as some offshore jobs in Norway and Canada. After working with salvage for 10 years, Peter was offered to join the onshore organisation and started as a controller in operations, where he worked the nightshift for a year, before stepping in as temporary operational manager for another year.

Then, in 2006, Peter joined the technical department as a Technical Superintendent, a role he held up until last year when he applied for his current position as Technical Manager overseeing Scandinavia and Germany.

“The different perspectives have kept it interesting throughout all these years and one of the reasons why I am still here after 30 years,” remarked Peter. He considers his experiences from the different corners of the business a big asset, because they give a much better understanding of different problems and how to settle them, along with an ability to translate what is going on.

Peter grew up around tugboats and he visited the office in Gothenburg for the first time when he was just a few months old. His mother worked in the finance department of Röda Bolaget before it was acquired by Svitzer. When he turned 13, he started helping out maintaining the tugboats every summer.

Peter’s career has progressed quite naturally, and he has been fortunate to be promoted by his managers. Erik Mainkvist, European Technical Manager, encouraged Peter to apply for his current position. Peter expressed that he is happy for the switch to technical, as he truly enjoys discussing with technical specialists from around the world and the knowledge sharing that leads to improved technical solutions.

What has kept Peter engaged throughout his time with Svitzer is the tugboats. “Cut to the bone, I find them fascinating; I am a technical guy, and the technic never stops fascinating me. The new-builds are interesting and the constant problem-solving is what keeps it interesting.”

“The different roles have definitely complemented each other; I think that is the best thing about working in different departments within the same company. You get positioned for a much more profound understanding of the business when moving around. Of course, most people have a fair idea of what is going on in the different corners of the business but there is a huge benefit in getting first-hand knowledge.”

All along the way, throughout his various roles and experiences within the industry—from when he was just a few months old, to the summers of his teenage years and still to this day— Peter has always been working out of the Gothenburg office. Peter smiles, “I know my way to work by now.”

Svitzer appoints new head of decarbonisation to drive sustainability strategy

Gareth Prowse to help set Svitzer’s global, customer-focused decarbonisation aims.

COPENHAGEN, 23 September 2021 – Svitzer, leading global towage operator and part of Maersk, has today announced the appointment of Gareth Prowse as its new global Head of Decarbonisation.

With an academic background in marine ecology, centring on environmental risk, pollution prevention and ecotoxicology, Gareth joins Svitzer from marine coatings manufacturer Hempel. In his new role as Svitzer’s global Head of Decarbonisation, Gareth will leverage his vast experience to set an ambitious sustainability strategy for Svitzer and drive new products and offerings within decarbonisation, with special consideration paid to how Svitzer can support its customers to decarbonise. The appointment comes at a timely moment for the organisation as it responds to customer demands for green towage options.

Commenting on Gareth’s appointment, Kasper Nilaus, CEO, Svitzer, said: “I am very pleased that Gareth has joined us to lead our ambitions and our initiatives around decarbonisation. As leading global towage operator and as part of Maersk, we share the responsibility of decarbonising the industry, and the appointment of a Head of Decarbonisation is testament to this commitment. We want to be a low carbon partner to our customers, contributing positively to their environmental footprint while also actively reducing our own. Gareth’s tremendous experience setting sustainability agendas and his deep knowledge of regulatory affairs will enable us to support our customers through their decarbonisation transition.”

Gareth’s expertise will enable Svitzer to set global decarbonisation targets for its global fleet of 440 tugs. As a first step, Gareth will assess where Svitzer currently sits in terms of environmental impact. He will also drive the company’s initiatives to market and scale new products and services that will enable decarbonisation for customers in the first and last mile of shipping. Svitzer is already exploring options for how it can expand its services in the port environment to support sustainability, including a hull performance offering that would help to tackle the critical challenge of vessel operational efficiency for customers.

Gareth Prowse, Svitzer’s incoming Head of Decarbonisation, said: “I could not be more excited to join Svitzer to help set its decarbonisation strategy. Towage is unique in that it straddles the boundaries between ocean and port, with unique challenges for our fleet to overcome from a regulatory perspective as a result. I am ready to benchmark where we currently stand as a major player in our industry and develop the strategy that will take us – as well as our customers – to a decarbonised future.”

Gareth holds a PhD from the University of Plymouth and in his previous roles he was a well-known representative and advocate for a sustainable coatings industry, and held a number of positions including time as Chairman of the World Coatings Council and Antifouling Coatings Committee. Gareth has joined Svitzer’s Extended Leadership Team and is working from the company’s global headquarters in Copenhagen, where he lives with his family.

Choose your career path at Svitzer

Your career at Svitzer is exactly that, your career. As our team spans across the globe, we want to highlight the many different pathways in which a career at Svitzer can take.

Meet Tully Barnes, Project Implementation Manager, Svitzer Australia

Over his seven years with Svitzer Australia, Project Implementation Manager Tully Barnes has worked across many facets of the business in various roles.

After a career in the Royal Australian Navy, Tully started with Svitzer as a Marine Engineer in Whyalla, South Australia, spending 18 months in the role including two dry dockings, before stepping into the role of Technical Manager.

Career growth is vital for Tully, and he attributes his drive for seeking change to his self-described restlessness.

“I tend to get ‘itchy feet’ after a couple of years within a role and think this is due to not enjoying the ‘comfort zone bubble’ that I feel can develop after doing something day-in day-out for a continuous period.

“While diving into something unfamiliar can be daunting, the feeling of achieving something new or solving for an unfamiliar problem far outweighs any initial feelings of uncertainty.”

Tully has broad experience in many of Svitzer’s operational settings, as a Marine Engineer on the tugs, involvement with multiple special survey dockings as Docking Engineer and Technical Manager, and overseeing all port operations as Port Manager in several of Svitzer Australia’s ports.

This knowledge, combined with his background in a mechanical trade, provides a solid foundation for approaching any task or solving any problem.

“While I don’t feel maritime experience is a ‘must have’ for any of these roles, an understanding of on-water operations certainly helps with conversations with crew and on-shore support functions alike.

“I approach any problem I need to solve in the same methodical way I would approach an Engineering defect. I start by identifying what the issue is, working through a structured process to determine the root cause, and seeking to determine suitable solutions.”

Svitzer’s network in Australia and around the world and his enthusiasm for learning, Tully saw the opportunity to gain exposure to different aspects of the industry.

“I saw Svitzer as the pinnacle of inshore marine and took the view that this would be where I would get the opportunity to work alongside the best and brightest in the industry.

“I thought learning from the best in the business would set me in good stead for the rest of my career.”

Last week, Svitzer Australia announced a long-term contract with the Royal Australian Navy to provide towage services to naval vessels and personnel training to Defence personnel in ports around Australia.

As Project Implementation Manager for Defence Marine Support Services, Tully’s latest role combines all his experience and expertise to bring Svitzer Australia’s newest contract to life.

Tully has worked on the project for the last eight months and says:

“I have had the absolute privilege to be the Implementation Manager for a new long-term contract with the Royal Australian Navy which represents the culmination of nearly three years of tireless work by the Svitzer team.”

Global Safety Day: safety is everyone’s business

Wednesday 8 September, Maersk and Svitzer celebrate Global Safety Day, bringing sea and shore together to discuss safety and how we all play an active role in ensuring that everyone gets home safe, every time.

For Global Safety Day this year the main topic in Svitzer is the Stop Work Authority – a mandate and right anyone working for Svitzer has to stop any unsafe work, anywhere and at any time with full support from management.

Chief Engineer Claudio Daniel Doglioli from Argentina and Master Aleksi Sitnikovi from Georgia welcome the Stop Work Authority and reflect on its importance at sea in the video below.

A simple yet powerful tool

The Stop Work Authority sounds like a simple tool but saying STOP during a towage operation with tight deadlines and things moving fast is hard and takes courage from the individual. But sometimes it is necessary. To keep people safe, to safeguard our operations and ultimately to ensure that we can deliver timely and efficient services to our customers and partners. And it comes with full support from management.

“Global Safety Day is a great opportunity to discuss Stop Work Authority, to empower each other and to fully understand how we use the authority to keep people, assets and our customer’s business safe. In my view, it is one of our most important tools to get everyone home safe. Anyone using the authority can trust that their decision will be backed. By their colleagues, by their managers and by me,” said Kasper Friis Nilaus, CEO of Svitzer.

Every day a safe day

At Svitzer, we do difficult things in difficult places and so every day has to be a safe day – not just once a year for Global Safety Day. The safety of people, the Svitzer fleet, and the environment where we operate, is the foundation of everything we do. We work together to ensure the integrity of ports and to provide our customers with safe, reliable and efficient towage services in ports and terminals across the globe.

Safety is a matter of protecting human lives, protecting the environment, and protecting assets, both for our customers and for ourselves. We have a responsibility to always strive to prevent incidents from happening as well as ensure we learn from those that do happen.

Svitzer Australia awarded towage contract for Royal Australian Navy

SYDNEY, 06 September 2021: Svitzer Australia, Australia’s leading towage provider, has been announced as the successful tenderer for a long-term contract to provide towage services for the Australian Department of Defence, servicing the Royal Australian Navy.

As the winner of the Defence Marine Support Services Package 3 tender, Svitzer 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.

With a network of over 20 ports nationally and as the largest employer of Australian seafarers, Svitzer Australia will continue to promote and support Australian and local maritime industries and jobs as part of this long-term contract.

Svitzer Australia Managing Director, Nicolaj Noes, said: “We are honoured to be chosen as the trusted partner to provide essential towage services to the Royal Australian Navy as they undertake their vital duty to serve 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 and to 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.

“By tapping into Svitzer’s global experience and local presence, we are well-positioned to deliver navigation and personnel training, which will develop the capabilities of Navy personnel and provide potential employment opportunities for veterans.”

Svitzer has previously supported Defence as a towage subcontractor in several Australian ports and has a long and proven history in Australia, providing flexible and reliable towage services to the highest industry standards to the Australian Defence maritime community.

Svitzer will commence towage operations for the Navy from 1 October 2021.

Rhys Thomas
Senior Consultant
BLUE Communications
T: +44 7595 227750
E: [email protected]

Picture Credit: Australian Government Department of Defence ©

Svitzer celebrates 10 years in Angola

1 September 2021 marks Svitzer’s 10-year anniversary operating at the Angola LNG (ALNG) terminal in Soyo. A great milestone, which is made possible only through the excellent collaboration with our customer, ALNG, and the ongoing support from the crew and staff.

Today, a team of 132 crew and onshore staff ensure safe and efficient operations at the ALNG terminal in Soyo and the CABGOC oil terminal offshore Cabinda, where Svitzer has been operating since 2018.

Although the composition of the fleet and personnel has changed over the years, the level of service has been consistent without any vessel delays since 2011. This means ALNG can continue to play a critical role in Angola’s economy, and the loading of the 300th LNG cargo on 23rd July illustrates the success of this major Angolan project.

Importantly, from the start, localisation has been key to delivering the needed marine services, although the absence of a large seafaring community in Angola was a bit of a challenge prior to setting up operations in 2011, as Nils de Jong, Country Manager Svitzer Angola explains:

“We were determined to train as many Angolan seafarers as possible when we started operating in the country. That meant they had to follow a training program on board the training ship “Danmark” where the cadets undertook extensive training both on- and offshore to learn seamanship and the value of safety and teamwork,” says Nils de Jong and continues:

“We continue to benefit from our investment in training to this day and we will continue to actively invest in training and developing our seafarers, as we want to contribute to the continuous growth and prosperity in Angola.”

Global, but local – getting the best of two worlds

With a very experienced crew, who have extensive knowledge to safely navigate the small channel in Soyo where the current from the Congo River makes berthing and un-berthing a rather complicated exercise, Svitzer Angola is combining its in-depth local knowledge with the advantages of being part of a global company.

“Towage is very much a local business, and at Svitzer we strive to turn our global operational knowledge and industry insights into safe, reliable and efficient towage services for our customers in the local ports – in this case Soyo and Cabinda,” says Nils de Jong.

The future looks bright

As most other countries in the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has also impacted Angola, but as things are easing, Svitzer Angola can focus on growing the business even further.

“This year we are celebrating our 10-year anniversary here in Angola and I look forward to continuing the great collaboration with ALNG for many years to come. On behalf of Svitzer, I would like to thank everyone, from past and present, who has contributed to this successful partnership” ends Nils de Jong.

Svitzer Europe appoints new cluster Managing Director for Scandinavia & Germany

Effective 1 September 2021, Mathias Jonasson will become Cluster Managing Director for important Scandinavia and Germany region.

COPENHAGEN, 30 August 2021 – Leading towage operator Svitzer Europe has today announced that Mathias Jonasson has been appointed as Managing Director of the Scandinavia & Germany Cluster, effective from 1 September 2021.

Mathias, who will report to Svitzer Europe’s Managing Director Lise Demant, has a robust background in the oil and gas sector including a range of experience in operational, commercial and leadership positions. In his new role, Mathias will be responsible for Svitzer’s operations in its key Scandinavian & German regions.

Mathias joins Svitzer from Inter Terminals AB, where, for the last six years, he led and developed the Swedish side of the business in the role of Managing Director. As Managing Director, Mathias placed particular focus on the operational and day-to-day of Inter Terminals AB’s Swedish business. Mathias has long track record of establishing stable customer portfolios that enable further commercial development and growth, as well as improving customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, and safety awareness. Under his leadership, Inter Terminals AB underwent a deep cultural transformation into a working environment characterised by strong values and trust.

Prior to this, Mathias worked for logistics and supply chain storage provider Vopak, also in Sweden. Here, he worked his way up from Terminal Manager to Commercial Manager & Deputy Managing Director as part of the company’s EMEA commercial network. Across his ten years at Vopak, Mathias was responsible for commercial and logistics activities including taking responsibility for the company’s revenue budget, technical maintenance projects, and high-level customer service provision.

Commenting on Mathias’ appointment, Lise Demant, Managing Director, Svitzer Europe said: “Mathias is a wonderful and highly-anticipated addition to Svitzer. He brings years of expertise and valuable knowledge in the oil and gas sector to our organisation, as well as an exceptional leadership style and commercial development skills that will surely contribute to the further growth of our operations and have a very positive impact on Svitzer as a whole.

“We are extremely excited to welcome him to Svitzer’s European Management Team and start working together on defining our operational strategy plans and realising the organisation’s business development goals for our important and growing operations in Scandinavia and Germany.”

In December 2020 Svitzer’s current Scandinavian & Germany MD Mattias Hellstöm was appointed as regional CCO for Svitzer Europe. He took on both roles in the period before Mathias Jonasson’s appointment.

Svitzer AMEA extends contract with Suez Canal Authority

OPENHAGEN, 11 AUGUST 2021 – Svitzer, leading global towage provider and part of Maersk, has today announced that it has extended its current contract with the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) to include two additional tugs.

Svitzer has been providing towage services in the Suez Canal since late 2019 with the two tugs Svitzer Port Said 1 and Svitzer Port Said 2 operating out of Port Said by the Mediterranean Sea entrance to the Canal. From Q4 2021, two new +70 tonnes bollard pull tugs will begin operating out of Port Suez by the Red Sea entrance to the Canal.

The two new tugs will be an important addition to the existing fleet and will ensure a future proofed operation that can provide the needed towage services as the volume of world trade and vessels passing through the Canal continue to increase.

Nicolai Vinther Friis, Managing Director Svitzer AMEA commented:

“The Suez Canal is the world’s most important global trade artery, and I am honoured that the Suez Canal Authority has awarded Svitzer an extension of the existing contract – it is testament of our trusted relationship and much valued collaboration with the SCA. At Svitzer, we are proud to support the SCA in their vision to render a distinguished and an uninterrupted service to vessels that transit the Suez Canal, thus ensuring efficient global supply chains.”

The two tugs are newbuilds delivered from the Cheoy Lee Shipyard and will be manned by all Egyptian crews. Operations are planned to start in Q4 2021.

With a fleet of more than 85 vessels operating in seven ports and 11 terminals across 12 countries in the region, Svitzer is a leading towage provider in the AMEA (Africa, Middle East & Asia) region.

For further information, please contact:

Bas Bolyn
Svitzer Australia
T: + 61 447 486 195
E: [email protected]

Choose your career path at Svitzer

Fred Jeeninga’s career started out different from many onshore colleagues, a clear demonstration of the multiple career trajectories in Svitzer. Fred started working at sea as an A/B on a tugboat when he just was 17 years old. By the age of 22, he was already sailing as a Master. His time at sea spanned almost two decades, before coming ashore in 2008. With his feet on the ground, Fred kickstarted his career with Svitzer as a training master in the Americas region.

In 2018, after many years abroad and countless hours commuting back and forth to Latin America, Fred returned home to the Netherlands to take on his current role as Cluster MD of Continental Europe. Fred’s entire family lives in Netherland, and after 10 years in Americas and 18 years at sea prior to that, being offered a position at home in the Netherlands was perfect.

HR have been great at addressing personal incentive along with professional, as his development into different positions happened naturally. Career advancement is important for Fred, otherwise he would not have climbed the ladder the way he has – ultimately transitioning from ship to shore. Svitzer’s value for career growth and personal development has encouraged Fred in his endeavours. “The company has supported me with training and different programs, which is the reason why I came in position of my current job as cluster MD,” he explains.

Fred continued, “Svitzer’s ability to provide a variety of positions in different corners of the world and the opportunity to learn and grow, professional as well as personal, are what keeps it interesting to work for this company. Not many companies provide these opportunities, however, Svitzer and Maersk are excellent at letting people grow and keeping employees engaged as there are always new opportunities arising.”

Fred’s background as a seafarer has significantly complemented his roles onshore, allowing him to draw on his understanding of what is going on on the tugs, as well as an understanding from the crew’s point of view, and applying that to make everyday operations safe and efficient. Building bridges and synergies between sea and shore makes a lot of sense for individual careers and to Svitzer as a company, as the different perspectives are very valuable to our business.

“I started my career 30 years ago at sea and sailed for 17 years in different functions onboard tugboats, the experience gained at sea has helped me in my development within the various onshore roles in Svitzer together with the company’s personal development and training programs.”

On a daily basis, Fred is putting the experience he gained onboard the tugs into play by sharing insights with colleagues who do not have the same at-sea experiences. This knowledge sharing is vital for setting everyone up for success.

Fred is an important player on the team, both in the Europe region and globally. He reports to Lise Demant, Managing Director of Svitzer Europe, and he is part of the European Management Team. Fred is known for going out of his way to help others, crunching problems and lending a hand where needed, even beyond his field of responsibilities.

Svitzer AMEA signs 10-year contract with FGEN LNG Corporation

From Q3 2022, Svitzer will start servicing FGEN LNG Corporation’s LNG import terminal located in Batangas Bay in the Philippines.

Copenhagen, 15 July 2021 – Svitzer, a leading global towage provider and part of Maersk, has today announced that it has signed a 10-year Time Charter Party with FGEN LNG Corporation (FGEN LNG), a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Gen Corporation (First Gen) for the provision of towage and other vessel support services required by FGEN LNG’s Interim Offshore LNG Terminal which will feature a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) that will be located at the First Gen Clean Energy Complex in Batangas City in the Philippines.

Svitzer will provide four new 75-tons bollard pull tugboats to assist the FSRU and LNG carriers that will deliver LNG to it, for berthing, un-berthing, navigation assistance, and provide other services including fire-fighting, pollution control, port and vessel security services, pilot and boarding party transfer, and fender management.

Commenting on the contract win, Nicolai Vinther Friis, Managing Director for Svitzer AMEA said:

“We are truly pleased that FGEN LNG has chosen Svitzer as a trusted partner and provider of towage services for the FGEN LNG terminal in Batangas Bay. Our two companies share many of the same values and at Svitzer, we look forward to collaborating with FGEN LNG on ensuring the energy security of the Philippines and to be part of the country’s green transition. This important contract adds a new country to the global Svitzer portfolio and expands our ability to provide safe and efficient towage and marine services support to more customers across the globe.”

Operations are planned to begin as early as Q3 2022 and Svitzer will now take the first steps to set up operations in the Philippines, which will include hiring 72 seafarers and five onshore staff, all local Filipinos. It is a key priority for Svitzer to ensure that its operations contribute positively to the communities in which Svitzer operate, which implies investing in local communities by providing training and professional development for members of the local workforce.

Commenting on the collaboration with Svitzer, Jon Russell, Executive Vice President, and Chief Commercial Officer at First Gen said:

“The provision of high-quality marine services will be vital to making the FGEN Project successful and our decision to select Svitzer came after a detailed evaluation of Svitzer’s technical capabilities and experience in this specialized activity as well as its commercial and contractual competitiveness. Svitzer has a track record of successful engagements in similar projects around the world, and throughout the process demonstrated a collaborative attitude, tailoring its offer to meet the specific needs of FGEN LNG. We look forward to working closely with the Svitzer team on this exciting project that will enhance the energy security of the Philippines and play an important role in the transition to a decarbonized economy.”

Svitzer Brazil takes next step in growth journey and enters two new ports

Rio de Janeiro, 1 July 2021 – Svitzer, leading global towage provider and part of Maersk, has today announced that it has added the ports of Pecém and Suape to its Brazilian footprint and operations, thus reaching an important milestone in the growth strategy for Svitzer Brazil and Svitzer Americas.

Svitzer has been operating in Brazil since 2015 and has since solidified its presence in the south and southeast of the country, building a thriving business serving and supporting customers across five ports. Now, Svitzer Brazil takes the next important steps in its exciting growth journey by entering the ports of Suape and Pecém in the northeast of the country. To service the customers in the two ports, Svitzer is deploying two powerful ASD tugs to each port – all four built recently in Brazil and fitted with cutting edge equipment.

Commenting on starting operations in Suape and Pecém, Daniel Reedtz Cohen, Managing Director Svitzer Brazil said:

“I am very pleased that we are now able to add Suape and Pecém to our Brazilian footprint – this is a major milestone in our Brazil expansion strategy. The majority of our customers are multinational and multiport customers that appreciate towage operators that are the same and so by improving and expanding our port coverage, we can cater even better to our customers’ needs and support their growth ambitions.”

The expansion in Brazil is an essential element in realising Svitzer Americas’ growth ambitions and strategy to further strengthening its presence and position in the region. As a leading global towage provider, Svitzer brings high safety standards as well as global presence, experience and financial resilience to the table along with in-depth regional and local knowledge – all to the benefit of the customers.

Commenting on Svitzer Americas’ growth ambitions, Arjen van Dijk, Managing Director Svitzer Americas said:

“We are firmly committed to the Americas with operations in 12 countries and we see significant growth potential in the region within both harbour and terminal towage, which are our main segments. As a global and regional operator, we will pursue these opportunities to expand our footprint in selected countries and ports. Brazil remains a key market for us and we are determined to continuously turn our presence, knowledge and skills into value for our customers across the country”

Headquartered in Panama, Svitzer Americas employs 835 people and operates more than 80 vessels, delivering marine services to global and regional customers across 12 countries.

For further information, please contact:

Bas Bolyn
Svitzer Australia
T: + 61 447 486 195
E: [email protected]

Day of the Seafarer 2021

“We have an obligation to ensure jobs and careers”
– Kasper Friis Nilaus, CEO Svitzer.

I am not a seafarer. I do not pretend to truly understand what it would mean to spend the majority of my adult life at sea. The pride seafarers feel and the challenges they face – when missing out on time with family and loved ones, battling high seas and stormy weather or working with an inherent operational risk every day. I admire and respect them. The safety, health and wellbeing of seafarers is close to my heart. As CEO of Svitzer, employing 3,600 dedicated colleagues at sea, and as a human being.

Today, around 90% of the world’s food, fuel, crude and manufactured goods are transported at sea by more than 1.5 million seafarers. In other words, seafarers run large parts of the global economy. Recent events, such as the still ongoing global pandemic and the incident in the Suez Canal where an enormous container vessel got stuck and paused global trade for one nerve-racking week, have put a much needed spotlight on the essential role that seafarers play. A role that must never be underestimated.

Recently, I had the great pleasure to go onboard one of our tugs in Amsterdam – something that was way overdue because of COVID-19 and something that I have missed dearly. As always, I find the opportunity to speak with the crew and experience first-hand their dedication and pride in what they do, inspiring. What they do truly matters – and so does what we do to support them.

Due to technology, innovation, and digitisation the maritime industry is undergoing massive and rapid changes – and the changes are also impacting towage. While I feel confident that seafarers will remain crucial to global trade for decades, there is no doubt that their role will change, already in the years to come. If I were to point to a single key obligation we have as shipowners and employers, it is to make sure we future proof the maritime workforce. Training and upskilling to address the technological innovation across the industry and providing opportunities to move between sea and shore are important elements. As employers we have an obligation to work relentlessly to secure safe and compliant operations as well as rewarding jobs and careers at sea, now and in the future. In close collaboration with crews, unions, customers and other industry parties.

Our seafarers remain the core and the heart of our towage business and I salute each one of them today, for their hard work, their dedication, and their commitment. Day of the Seafarer is an opportunity to put seafarers at the centre of everyone’s attention – which we should – but the attention must not be a one-day event. Let’s make sure we all work together across industries, borders and cultures to build a fair future for anyone working at sea, every day and everywhere.

Stay safe!

Kasper Friis Nilaus, CEO Svitzer

Svitzer Americas appoints new Managing Director for Dominican Republic and Caribbean

Copenhagen, 7 June 2021 – Effective 1 June 2021, Matthias Reinarz has been appointed new Managing Director for Svitzer in the Dominican Republic & Caribbean. He replaces Dickson Rivas, who after a long career with Svitzer is stepping down and retiring by the end of the year. Until his retirement, Dickson Rivas will remain available as special advisor.

Commenting on the appointment of Matthias Reinarz, Arjen van Dijk, Managing Director Svitzer Americas said:

“I am very pleased that Matthias Reinarz has accepted the position as Managing Director in the Dominican Republic & Caribbean. Matthias Reinarz comes with broad management experience and a long and proven track record within both shipping and towage. With his strong combination of commercial mindset and operational experience, he is the right person to further develop and grow our operations and customer relations in the Caribbean. I also want to thank Dickson Rivas for his strong dedication and efforts throughout his years with Svitzer, he has been instrumental in growing Svitzer’s presence and position in the Dominican Republic.”

Svitzer has been present in the Dominican Republic and Caribbean islands since 2010 through a joint venture with Remolcadores Dominicanos and is the leading towage provider in the Caribbean with 23 vessels servicing 10 operations.

Commenting on his appointment, Matthias Reinarz said:

“I am very excited about the opportunity to head Svitzer’s operations in the Dominican Republic & Caribbean and I look forward to further developing our services together with the team to ensure that Svitzer continues to deliver safe, reliable and efficient towage services to our customers and thus remains the preferred towage provider in the region.”

In the Americas region, Svitzer employees 835 people and operates more than 80 vessels, delivering marine services to global and regional customers across 12 countries.

For further information, please contact:

Bas Bolyn
Svitzer Australia
T: + 61 447 486 195
E: [email protected]

Choose your career path at Svitzer

Your career at Svitzer is exactly that, your career. As our team spans across the globe, we want to highlight the many different pathways in which a career at Svitzer can take.

We reached out to various colleagues from Americas, Europe, Australia and AMEA, and each person took the time to talk about their very different experiences.

Meet Josina Meier

Commercial & Business Development Analyst, Svitzer Europe

Two years ago, Josina Meier started her career with Svitzer as a Student Assistant in the Europe Commercial team while she was studying her master’s degree in International Strategic Management. Today, with her continuous drive and open mind towards new challenges, Josina now works full-time as the Commercial & Business Development Analyst in Svitzer Europe.

“At this early stage of my career, I am grateful for the opportunity to develop my skills and gain professional experience within my field of interest.”

Josina is originally from Germany, so the student position at Svitzer’s European headquarters in Copenhagen not only gave her an opportunity to pursue her master’s degree abroad but also allowed her to work in an international environment – something she had always dreamt of.

During her time with Svitzer, Josina’s job opportunities have emerged quite naturally. After completing her master’s and finishing her role as student assistant, an opportunity arose for Josina to gain some experience in the finance department by taking over a role within Financial Planning & Analysis on an intermediary basis.

“Naturally as a young professional, I haven’t had too many different roles within Svitzer but being part of the finance team has definitely been a great experience which I enjoyed a lot and enabled me to look at the business from a different perspective. In my current role, I benefit daily from the knowledge gained during that time.”

Career growth is vital for Josina, as she is eager to continuously learn and develop her skills, part of which also involves taking on new challenges and responsibilities in the future.

“The atmosphere in the Europe Commercial team is very engaging in general and from the very first day I got the feeling that my managers put the necessary trust in me to pursue projects that I think are valuable. That and the variety of tasks and projects that I get to work on keeps me engaged on a daily basis.”

Svitzer in Argentina changes name as part of efforts to further solidify its position in the country

Buenos Aires, 31 May 2021 – As part of its continuous efforts to solidify and strengthen its position in Argentina and to further integrate the Svitzer brand name, leading global towage provider Svitzer has changed its company name in Argentina from Madero Amarres S.A. to Svitzer Argentina S.A.U. Besides supporting the efforts to further integrate the Svitzer brand name, the name change also underlines Svitzer’s commitment to its operations in Argentina.

Recently, Svitzer Argentina has strengthened its position in the country by securing a four-year contract with Oiltanking. As of 1 April 2021, the Svitzer Honour has attended and serviced the two monobuoys Punta Ancla and Punta Cigüeña in Puerto Rosales. The Oiltanking EBYTEM S.A. terminal has these two single points of mooring for crude oil movements in a depth of app. 18 meters approximately.

Commenting on the contract with Oiltanking, Kees van den Borne, Managing Director Svitzer Argentina says:

“At Svitzer, we are committed to our operations and customers in Argentina, and I am very pleased that we have been awarded this important contract with Oiltanking. Towage is a local business that calls for in-depth regional and local knowledge. As a global towage provider we strive to turn high global safety standards, operational knowledge and industry insights into safe, reliable and efficient towage services for our customers in the local Argentinean ports where we operate.”

Svitzer has been operating in Argentina since 2016 and services its customers with nine vessels in four ports – Buenos Aires, Bahia Blanca, Rosario and Necochea. Svitzer Argentina employs in total 140 people onshore and offshore.

Svitzer Brazil ramps up for growth by investing in four newbuilt tugs

Rio de Janeiro, 20 May 2021 – Leading global towage provider Svitzer has today announced that it has signed a contract with Brazilian shipyard Rio Maguari for the delivery of four new azimuth stern drive (ASD) 70-ton bollard pull tugboats for its operations in Brazil.

Svitzer Brazil has since its entry in 2015 deployed 14 ASD tugs to service its customers in the ports of Santos, Vitoria, Rio Grande, Sao Francisco do Sul and Paranagua, and this will be the fourth time that the company orders new tugs to be built in Brazil. The four newbuilds are an important addition to the existing fleet and a vital element in Svitzer Brazil’s growth ambitions.

Commenting on the investment in new tugs, Daniel Reedtz Cohen, Managing Director Svitzer Brazil says:

“We have built a solid business here in Brazil with a good customer base, but we want to grow our presence even more and expand our fleet, port coverage and customer portfolio. Our ambition is to serve our customers with Brazilian built tugs to the largest extent possible and so I am very happy that we are now taking this important step of expanding our fleet with four newbuilt tugs from Rio Maguari Shipyard. The four new tugs will be vital to our ability to cater to our customers’ need for broad geographical coverage and to always provide safe, reliable and efficient towage solutions.”

The four new tugs will be from the RAmparts 2300 series designed by Robert Allan Ltd. The first of the four new tugs will be delivered in October 2022, while the last of the four tugs will follow in April 2023.

Commenting on the delivery of the four new tugs to Svitzer Brazil, Fabio Vasconcellos, Commercial Director Rio Maguari Shipyard says:

“We are very proud to have won the bid to build these high standard tugs, and we hope this is the start of a long-term partnership with Svitzer for future projects in Brazil and worldwide. With this contract awarded by an operator with such a significant role in the tug industry, Rio Maguari Shipyard becomes an important option to be considered by tug operators in Brazil and around the world for future new buildings.”

For further information, please contact:

Bas Bolyn
Svitzer Australia
T: + 61 447 486 195
E: [email protected]

Para mais informações no Brasil:

Anthony Dovkants
+55 11 99686 8060

Choose your career path at Svitzer

Your career at Svitzer is exactly that, your career. As our team spans across the globe, we want to highlight the many different pathways in which a career at Svitzer can take.

We reached out to various colleagues from Americas, Europe, Australia and AMEA, and each person took the time to talk about their very different experiences. Over the coming months we will showcase this series, hoping to inspire existing as well as potential colleagues and to celebrate these journeys and explore all parts of our business.

Hossam Eid

Contract Manager SCA (Suez Canal Authority), Port Said Egypt, Svitzer AMEA

Hossam Eid started his career at Svitzer already in 2007, but after a few years it was time to try something different. Fortunately, Hossam returned to Svitzer in 2018 where he worked as a Captain but was soon asked if he would participate in Svitzer AMEA’s Ship to Shore program.

“Career advancement has always been important to me and by joining Svitzer I have had the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally. Having personal development plans have without a doubt increased my motivation and helped me take charge of my career.”

In 2019, Svitzer signed a 10-year agreement with Suez Canal Authority (SCA) to provide towage services at the Suez Canal Container Terminal (SCCT) in Port Said, Egypt and Hossam first became part of the implementation team, then appointed Port Captain and now works as the Contract Manager.

Working internationally and as part of big company was an incentive for Hossam when choosing his future employer. In his view, a culturally diverse management team is a source of strength for any organization – especially when operating globally – and he enjoys the diversity of the over 40 different nationalities that are employed at Svitzer.

When asked what keeps him engaged, Hossam is very clear; consistent values, a clear vision, trust, respect, and empowerment are key.

“At Svitzer, we respect and trust each other, also when we disagree. We are encouraged to speak up and contribute and I know that my opinion matter. People are treated as individuals and we care for each other, there is the family feeling in Svitzer which I value very much.”

It was via his direct line manager that Hossam was first made aware of his career opportunities, but his personal and professional development don’t stop with his most recent appointment. This spring he has been assigned to the Leading Maersk 2.0 Program and he is working to complete his certified manager certificate.

“Life at sea is challenging and working as a Captain taught me a lot of valuable skills and how to always find a solution and a way to achieve my goals. Something, which I also benefit from in my new onshore role.”

Svitzer Amea appoints new COO

Effective 2 May, Svitzer AMEA welcomes Tina Benjamin-Lea as new regional Chief Operating Officer.

Copenhagen 27 April 2021 – On 2 May 2021, Tina Benjamin-Lea will take up the position as new COO in Svitzer’s AMEA region, reporting to Svitzer AMEA’s Managing Director, Nicolai Vinther Friis. Tina Benjamin-Lea brings with her a wealth of experience within logistics after having worked more than 30 years in the industry, focusing on cargo operations, chartering, ISPS and terminal operations.

Commenting on the appointment, Nicolai Vinther Friis, Managing Director for Svitzer AMEA says:

“I am very pleased that Tina Benjamin-Lea is joining Svitzer AMEA as our new regional COO as she brings with her many years of experience from the logistics industry and is thus the perfect candidate to further strengthen our operations and continue our strong focus on safety and efficiency. Our responsibility as a towage provider goes beyond pushing and pulling ships. We are responsible for moving cargo in and out of ports and countries in a timely, efficient and safely manner.

In Svitzer, we are strongly committed to the AMEA region and are looking to expand our activities in the coming years and to further develop tailormade solutions and offerings that fit our customers’ specific needs. With Tina’s wealth of experience from the industry and the region, she will be instrumental to those efforts.”

Tina Benjamin-Lea joins Svitzer from a position as Logistics Director with AMALAA in Saudi Arabia where she spearheaded Construction Logistics as a member of the Delivery Senior Leadership Team. Before joining AMALAA, she held various global roles within logistics and operations in companies such as SNC Lavalin, Shell, and TransOceanic.

With a fleet of more than 85 vessels operating in seven ports and 11 terminals across 12 countries in the region, Svitzer is a leading towage provider in the AMEA region.