Tribute to Bushfire town as her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary of Denmark Launches "SVITZER MARYSVILLE" Tug in Melbourne, Australia.
Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary of Denmark today launched SVITZER Australia’s newest Tugboat ‘SVITZER Marysville’ at Docklands in Melbourne, in honour of the bushfire devastated township of Marysville. The ceremony was also attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark.
Forty five of Marysville’s 500 people lost their lives and ninety percent of the town’s homes and buildings were destroyed in the Black Saturday bushfires north-east of Melbourne in February 2009. The fires have been recorded as one of Australia’s worst ever disasters. SVITER also named its newest Australian Tug ‘SVITZER Marysville’ to underscore the links between the company’s Danish Heritage and its strong presence in Australia.
Australian-born Crown Princess Mary doused the Tug’s bow with Champagne, before boarding for an inspection with Crown Prince Frederick and other dignitaries including Murrindindi Shire Mayor Cr Peter Beales and Denmark-based SVITZER CEO Jesper Lok. The Crown Prince Couple also met with residents of Marysville invited to Docklands for the occasion, including Firefighters from Marysville Volunteer Fire Brigade and students from Marysville and Buxton Primary Schools.
“Given her disposition for providing support and inspiration to others, it is with great pride that we welcome Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary of Denmark,” SVITZER Australia Managing Director Mark Malone told a gathering of 250 invited guests and media representatives from around the world. “In choosing this name, it is our pleasure and privilege to pay tribute to Marysville the town, and its people. “We’ve learned a great deal from Marysville and its people. About suffering and surviving. Bonding and rebuilding. About what makes a community a community, in every true sense of the word.
“As maritime tradition usually dictates, all good vessels should take the name of a good lady, or location. When it came to this Tug before us, we thought why not both? “These links between Denmark and Australia meant that in selecting the name for this vessel we could not overlook the opportunity to create a working tribute to both Marysville the place and the Crown Princess.” SVITZER CEO Jesper Lok said the Royal presence made for a unique Tug launch. “The symbolic significance of the event and the presence of the Crown Prince Couple has made this one of the most memorable Tug naming launches in SVITZER’s 170 year history,” Mr Lok said.
“We are indebted to the Crown Prince Couple for attending the SVITZER Marysville naming ceremony. We want our vessel SVITZER Marysville to be a long lasting reminder of Marysville the town and its extraordinary people.” Built by Damen Shipyards at Song Cam Haiphong in Vietnam, SVITZER Marysville weighs 250 tonnes. She has bollard pull of 68 tonnes. She is 24.5 metres long, and has a service speed of 12.5 knots. She is powered by twin Catepillar 3516C engines. Headquartered in Copenhagen, SVITZER operates a global fleet of more than 540 vessels in 35 countries and provides safety and support services at sea. SVITZER’S core services include towage, harbour, emergency response and salvage.