Svitzerwijsmuller News

Singapore-based offshore vessel operator Miclyn Express Offshore (MEO) has appointed Darren Ang as CEO. Ang, who took over as CEO from Diederik DeBoer, has been with the company for 22 years.Prior to becoming CEO, Ang served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer. Before this, he served as Chief Marketing Officer of the company from November 2016 to March 2019, and Chief Operating Officer from September 2007. In addition, Ang was employed as an Assistant Engineer at A.P. Moller, a Petroleum Surveyor at Det Norske Veritas, and a Marine Consultant at Bureau Veritas.

Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar (NDSQ) has delivered two new Qatari-built mooring tugs to towage operator Nakilat SvitzerWijsmuller (NSW). The delivery of the two ASD 2810 tugs is part of a seven-vessel order that the yard is currently working on for NSW. The first of the new tugs, named Umm Al Shubrum, completed sea trials in Ras Laffan in mid-January 2015. She was followed in February by the second vessel, Al Kharsaah. Both vessels will operate as part of Nakilat NSW’s growing fleet. NSW currently operates more than 30 vessels and performs 12,500 tug jobs per year.

Qatari shipbuilder Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar (NDSQ) has laid the keels for two 16-metre long Stan Tugs, part of a seven-vessel order for marine services provider Nakilat SvitzerWijsmuller (NSW). A ceremony to mark this step in the shipbuilding process was held at NDSQ’s facilities located at Erhama bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard in Qatar’s Port of Ras Laffan. The two twin-screw Stan Tugs have a bollard pull of 15 tonnes and will be used for mooring vessels visiting the Port of Ras Laffan.

With twin Cummins KTA50 M2 engines each producing 1800 HP at 1900 RPM the crewboat Umm Al Rous has the power to move 12 off-shore personnel in comfort and safety at speeds of 25 knots using only 80 percent of her maximum continuous duty rating. At 25.3-meters, the solidly built boat assures comfort even in a heavy sea. With a 6.1-meter beam and a 2.8-meter depth, the vessel’s hull has a spacious engine room and ample soundproofing to assure a quiet ride. The vessel is equipped with two control stations. Designed and built by the Grandweld Shipyard in , UAE the vessel was delivered to her owners Nakilat Svitzerwijsmuller WLL in late January 2008. She is operated by a crew of three and has tankage for 2906 gallons of fuel, 578 gallons of water and 57 USG of lube oil.

During a recent series of meetings, the shareholders of SmitWijs Towage – Smit International (50%) and SvitzerWijsmuller (50%) – have reconfirmed their commitment to the ocean towage business and their efforts to remain the market leader in this segment. As of August 29, Managing Director Aart Brand will be leaving the joint venture due to reaching retirement age. Brand will continue his services in the capacity of Senior Advisor until the end of this year, and will be succeeded by Jord Veldman. Mr Veldman currently holds the position of Regional Manager Americas with SvitzerWijsmuller. Hans van der Donck, General Manager of SmitWijs, will continue in his present function.

Nakilat-SvitzerWijsmuller (the joint venture company set-up by SvitzerWijsmuller and Qatar Gas Transport Company - Nakilat), has awarded UAE's Albwardy Marine Engineering a contract to build five tugboats. A keel-laying ceremony for the building of the five boats was held at the Dubai Ship Dockyard in Al Jaddaf. Source: AMEinfo

New developments in wreck removal and the ever-increasing size of ships provided the focus for the International Salvage Union’s London conference on March 7. Looking at the prospects for a new Wreck Removal Convention, the Institute of Maritime Law’s Richard Shaw warned that adoption of the draft at the May diplomatic conference in Nairobi was not a foregone conclusion. Richard Shaw said that the new Convention, if adopted, would provide comfort to harbormasters and shore authorities asked to provide refuge for marine casualties. He added that the convention provides freedom to contract. A Coastal State may not impose a particular salvor on an owner.

Smit Internationale NV today agreed with Adsteam to acquire Adsteam’s port of Liverpool towage operations. This agreement is a result from the requirement of the English Competition Commission as set out in its decision on the acquisition of Adsteam Marine Ltd by SvitzerWijsmuller. Consequently the agreement between SMIT and Adsteam is subject to approval of the Competition Commission and to the finalization of the acquisition of Adsteam by SvitzerWijsmuller.

Institutional shareholders of tugboat company Adsteam Marine remained mixed about the recommended $700m all-cash takeover offer from Danish shipping giant AP Moller-Maersk. Analyst Alexander Mees of JP Morgan said some smaller investors were happy with the takeover bid, but larger shareholders believed Adsteam was worth far more, fuelling hopes that a higher bid might be in the making. Adsteam shares remained unchanged at $2.57 - slightly higher than the $2.54-a-share cash bid lodged by salvage company SvitzerWijsmuller, a subsidiary of Maersk. Adsteam's largest shareholder, Investors Mutual, said that while the offer represented a healthy premium, it was still below replacement value of Adsteam's 200 tugboats.

Robert-Jan van Acker head of SvitzerWijsmuller’s global salvage activities, welcomed guests at a reception last week marking the opening of the group’s office in Cape Town. With Robert-Jan is Nick Sloane, SvitzerWijsmuller’s General Manager, Africa. SvitzerWijsmuller’s Cape Town office opened in July. Within the first month, the Cape Town team responded to four marine emergencies. Addressing representatives of SAMSA (the South African Maritime Safety Authority) and Cape Town’s maritime community, Robert-Jan van Acker said: “SvitzerWijsmuller was established in its present form in 2001. Since then, the group’s international activities have expanded steadily.

Abeer Marine Services (AMS), a company in the Wilh. Wilhelmsen group (WW) will establish a joint operating company with the Maersk-owned SvitzerWijsmuller (SW). The joint company will be named Express Offshore Transport Pte. Ltd. (EOT). WW and SW will each own 50 percent. The company will be based in Singapore and have 80 shore based personnel. The company will be operational as of 1 November 2005 subject all relevant approvals being given. The application for approval of the new joint company is being considered by the European Commission under the EC Merger Regulation. - EOT will become a solid company which will be well-equipped to increase the quality and further improve the service vis-à-vis the customers…