Engage Marine expands fleet following multi-port licence award 

Engage Marine has ordered newbuild harbour tugs for delivery in 2025 after securing towage contracts covering several Australian ports. The independent Australian owner has expanded its towage services and fleet in the nation, successfully competing with international operators to win these contracts.

Its latest awards cover ship handling and towage services in Townsville, Lucinda, Cairns and Mourilyan in Queensland, following a commercial tender process. These contracts came from Port of Townsville and Ports North, which operate these harbours and will see Engage Marine take over service from incumbents Smit Lamnalco Towage Australia and Svitzer Australia.

Engage Marine chief executive Mark Malone welcomes the long-term exclusive licence covering these ports and explains how a new fleet of tugs will service ships within these harbours.

“We are committed to working closely with Port of Townsville and Ports North to ensure a smooth transition to operations,” he says. “We are committed to investing in and supporting the local communities in which we operate. We will work closely with the local port and community stakeholders when commencing operations to identify opportunities to maximise the use of local content.”

Mr Malone expects new azimuth stern drive (ASD) tugboats to be delivered in 2025 to help service this exclusive licence and ensure safe ship manoeuvring, towage and docking in these ports.

“This licence requires a seven-tug fleet that will be introduced mid-2025,” he tells Riviera. “We will take delivery of a further three newbuild ASD 2813s in 2025, together with secondhand purchases, which will grow our owned vessel fleet to more than 20.”

When these come into service, Engage Marine will have a total owned and operated fleet, including vessels it manages for clients, of more than 40 vessels. 

Future plans

“We will be establishing offices and shoreside support in both Townsville and Cairns, and we are committed to recruiting staff and crew that live locally to each of the ports,” says Mr Malone.

“We have successfully implemented numerous new operations in recent years, transitioning from the incumbent operator, safely, efficiently and on-time with no disruption to operations.”

The past year was a busy one for the Perth, Western Australia-headquartered owner as it grew its business across the country. Engage Marine took delivery of two new ASD 2813 tugs – Engage Renegade and Engage Rascal – from Damen Shipyards in Q4 2023 in preparation for the end of its Engage Towage joint venture with Smit Lamnalco in early 2024. 

“Subsequently, we introduced and now operate five of our own tugs across the ports of Sydney and Geelong after the end of the joint venture,” says Mr Malone.

“We commenced a two-tug operation in the Port of Wyndham, Western Australia in early 2024, supporting Kimberley Metals Group with its iron ore transhipment operations. This is a successful expansion in northern Australia, servicing the resources sector.”

Mr Malone expects further growth to come from its operations in Australia as it works closer with port authorities and demonstrated its commitment to local engagement.

“We have a handful of other opportunities that may materialise over the next 12 months that are a combination of tenders and bilateral discussions with prospective clients,” says Mr Malone. “These discussions continue to show the numerous opportunities for expansion in the local market. We work closely with the relevant port authorities and stakeholders to deliver on-time commencement, an improved service offering and operational efficiencies.”

Engage Marine provides towage services under its Westug entity in the ports of Dampier, Cape Lambert and Cape Cuvier for resource miners and exporters. As an independent operator, Engage also provides marine services in Port Latta, Tasmania and in Whyalla, South Australia for resource developers, and delivers harbour towage to North Queensland Bulk Ports Corp at its Abbot Point facilities in North Queensland.