The Danish towage provider, Svitzer AMEA (Africa, the Middle East and Asia) has announced that it has extended its current contract with the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) to include two additional tugs in the canal’s fleet.
Delivered from the Cheoy Lee Shipyard, the new bollard pull tugs of more than 70 tonnes each, will be manned by all Egyptian crews and they are planned to start operations out of Port Suez by the Red Sea entrance to the canal, until the last quarter of 2021.
The two newbuilt tugs will be an important addition to the existing fleet as it is expected to provide the needed towage services for the constantly increasing vessels passing through the Canal, according to a statement.
Managing Director of Svitzer AMEA, Nicolai Vinther Friis believes that the extension of the existing contract constitutes a testament to the two partners’ trusted relationship and collaboration.
Maersk’s subsidiary has been providing towage services in the Suez Canal since late 2019 with the two tugs, Svitzer Port Said 1 and Svitzer Port Said 2, operating out of Port Said by the Mediterranean Sea entrance to the canal.
