Has Svitzer won Gladstone tug-o-war?

SVITZER is believed to have secured the next Gladstone exclusive towage contract, displacing incumbent Boluda Towage.

In a notice to staff issued on Monday and obtained by DCN Boluda said that unfortunately, it had been informed it was not the preferred tenderer. Ironically, the news broke just after all 11 Boluda Gladstone tugs were involved in the successful refloat of the grounded bulker Cape Falcon last week.

DCN has been told by third-party sources that Svitzer has won the deal and will provide a full fleet of TRAnsverse tugs in two different sizes.

The Danish company recently announced it had placed orders for a further six 29-metre TRAnsverse tugs, just as the first of eight TRA2900s already under construction at the yard of Hong Kong builder Cheoy Lee nears delivery readiness.

The TRAnsverse designs, developed by Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd with Svitzer, feature in the 32-metre version in Newcastle where Svitzer Nobbys and Svitzer Barrington have drawn praise from tugmasters, pilots and ship masters.

The additional contract with Cheoy Lee bring Svitzer’s current TRAnsverse vessels under construction to 24 globally. More than three quarters of Svitzer’s tugs on order are TRAnsverse tugs, which come in size variations of 26m, 29m, 32m and 35m; with electric, hybrid and conventional diesel-powered configurations.

DCN approached Svitzer for confirmation and comment but was advised “As you will appreciate, we can’t comment on tenders.  All matters relating to Gladstone towage are for Gladstone Ports Corporation.”

We duly approached GPC, which responded: “Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC) is a Queensland Government Owned Corporation and is unable to comment on or disclose confidential information relating to its procurement processes.”

In the staff notice Boluda pointed out that the current Excusive Harbour Towage License remains with the company until December 2027 and is likely to be extended until December 2028 (presumably to enable the new holder to get its fleet into place) subject to confirmation.

“We remain fully committed to supporting GPC and the Port of Gladstone and to continue to deliver towage services to our usual high standards, ensuring our operations remain safe, reliable and uninterrupted,” local operations manager Ashley Bland wrote.

“We ask that everyone remain focused on their daily responsibilities and continue to provide the reliable and safe vessel-assist services our port customers expect from us.”

The loss will be a blow to Boluda – 49% owned by MSC – which only completed the takeover of Smit Lamnalco’s Australian and PNG business in early October last year and has since expanded through the purchase of Esperance-based Mackenzie Marine & Towage; it is also believed to be in the running for the Bunbury towage contract currently held by Svitzer.

Also ironically, it was Svitzer that lost the contract to Smit Lamnalco in 2011, marking the Dutch/Saudi joint venture’s first entry into the Australian market. Smit Lamnalco’s local fleet grew from 5 to 50 over the next 14 years.

Unauthorised sources earlier told DCN the shortlist had come down to Boluda, Svitzer and Chilean operator SAAM, with the latter’s interest underlined by representatives’ presence at last week’s Ports Australia biennial conference.