Video: Svitzer's view of the future of towage

As editor of International Tug & Salvage, I have had the opportunity to see firsthand the advances in tug design, engine technology and propulsion development.

In a recent interview, Svitzer chief operating officer Kasper Karlsen shared with ITS the forward-leaning initiatives the Danish owner is taking in terms of alternative fuels, electrification and tug design.

This includes operating its first TRAnsverse tugs, Svitzer Taurus in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Svitzer Barrington and Svitzer Nobbys in Newcastle, Australia.

Two of these TRAnsverse tugs are operating side by side, providing a significant uplift in towage and shiphandling capabilities in demanding operations within the second-busiest port in Australia.

Svitzer Barrington and Svitzer Nobbys were built by Uzmar Shipyard in Turkey to a TRAnsverse 3200 design, which was jointly developed by Svitzer and Robert Allan Ltd.

“The TRAnsverse represents a generational step forward in tug design,” said Mr Karlsen. “It is not just about more power, but is about smarter, safer and more efficient operations.”

TRAnsverse design tugs can undertake dynamic operations including side-stepping speeds of up to 8 knots and lateral push, all while maintaining stability and control.

“The innovation of this tug lies in how it can adapt safely and responsively to pilot orders, for a variety of manoeuvres, in different and often difficult operating sea states and weather,” said Mr Karlsen.