Svitzer towage provider and part of A.P. Moller-Maersk has signed a 15-year agreement to service Gastrade’s Alexandroupolis Independent Natural Gas System LNG terminal, the first offshore LNG project in Greece. This collaboration will enhance energy security for Greece and South-Eastern Europe.
Svitzer will apply its global terminal towage expertise and experience to rapidly set up towage services and support for advanced LNG operations at the new import terminal.
This includes supporting a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) with a pipeline system connecting the floating unit to the Greek National Natural Gas Transmission System and onwards to final consumers in Greece and the Balkans.
Svitzer will provide four new ASD tugboats, fully manned by Greek crew, to assist the FSRU and the carriers delivering LNG.
Svitzer tugboats will provide berthing, un-berthing, navigation assistance, and other terminal services including firefighting, pollution control, pilot and boarding party transfer.
Furthermore, Svitzer will provide support and station keeping services to the FSRU during initial installation.
The project marks Svitzer’s first entry into the Greek market and will see the company apply its knowledge and skills in the local environment.
The towage provider claims that this deal will result in the creation of both onshore and offshore job opportunities based at the terminal in Alexandroupolis, Greece.
While the Alexandroupolis LNG terminal is set to become operational in the beginning of 2024, Svitzer has already initiated the recruitment process to ensure staff undergo robust training in line with Svitzer’s operational and safety standards ahead of operations commencing.
Training will include the use of advanced tug simulators replicating the actual environment around the Alexandroupolis LNG terminal.
Commenting on the announcement, Lise Demant, Managing Director, Svitzer Europe, said: “The agreement will allow Svitzer to grow within its core business, expand geographically and deliver safe and efficient marine services to a new customer. This includes providing a truly customised solution for Gastrade, with the delivery of four brand new tugs”.
Konstantinos Sifnaios, Managing Director at Gastrade, added: “High-quality towage and marine services will be critical to the success of the Alexandroupolis LNG Terminal project. We are convinced that Svitzer is the right partner to deliver this, thanks to its extensive track record in terminal towage, its agile fleet management, and solid experience from servicing many other LNG customers globally.”
