Daan Koornneef News

Pacific Basin Shipping Limited has sold to Smit Lamnalco its entire shareholding in PB Towage Australia (PBTA), including all its harbor towage operations and 16 harbor tugs and two additional assests (one harbor tug and one barge) currently owned by other PB companies. The transaction is expected to complete in January 2015 and will constitute the sale of Pacific Basin's entire harbor towage assets and activities. Mats Berglund, CEO of Pacific Basin, said, "Pacific Basin has been engaged in the harbor towage business since 2007. PB Towage Australia has done a great job for its customers, establishing itself as a leading provider of harbor towage services with a good reputation as a safe and quality-conscious operator.

A welcoming ceremony was held for two newbuild vessels SL Gabon and SL Libreville at Port‐Gentil, Gabon on April 17. Among those attending the ceremony were the Minister Delegate of Transport Mr. Emmanuel Jean Didier Biye, the Governor of the Ogooué Maritime Province Mr. Martin Boguikouma, the Prefect of the Bendjè Department Mr. Joseph Mouele, Total Gabon Chief Executive Officer Mr. Benoît Chagué and Smit Lamnalco Chief Executive Officer Mr. Daan Koornneef. SL Gabon and SL Libreville have been contracted for a five year period by Total Gabon.

Smit Lamnalco has secured the turnkey contract to support Single Point Mooring operations for The Iraq Crude Oil Export Expansion Project (ICOEEP). The scheme, 20 km off the Al Fao Peninsula, looks to triple oil exports from Iraq. The SPM contract covers operations and maintenance of four SPM systems and runs for up to three years, a term that would generate over US$200 million for Smit Lamnalco. The agreement involves the full scope of maritime support services for the export facilities.

First Smit Lamnalco branded tug launched. On 24 August Smit Lamnalco launched SL Gabon, the first tug branded under its new corporate identity, following the integration of Smit’s terminal handling activities with Lamnalco in July 2011. Built by Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania, SL Gabon is also the first of two newbuilds contracted for a five year period by Total Gabon to provide support in the offshore oilfields and to assist tanker operations at the onshore terminal of Cap Lopez, at Port Gentil, Gabon. The second tug, SL Libreville, is due for delivery next month.