Svitzer Australia will provide tugboats and a pilot boat to assist export shipments from the Chevron-operated Wheatstone LNG Terminal under a marine services contract valued at approximately $650 million.
Under the agreement, Svitzer expects to create more than 30 new Australian jobs, including a number of Aboriginal trainees.
Svitzer, part of the A.P. Moller – Maersk Group, will supply four 33 metre-long, 80-tonne bollard-pull tugs to assist export vessels during the operational phase of the project at Ashburton North, 12 kilometres west of Onslow in Western Australia.
Crewed by Australian mariners, the Azimuth Stern Drive vessels will use diesel electric engines to provide efficient, safe and environmentally friendly towage and escort capabilities for a period of at least 20 years from 2016.
Svitzer, a towage, salvage and emergency response specialist with 500 vessels in 40 countries, will also supply a 17.6m self-righting pilot boat that will be built by Hart Marine on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
Svitzer will soon enter into a construction partnership and select a shipyard to build the tugs.
[mappress]
Press Release, January 2, 2014