PACIFIC TOWING has expanded its fleet of tugboats with the addition of a specialised harbour tug at the company’s Port Moresby base.
Tavurvur is an Azimuth Stern Drive tug, the second of two ASD tugs purchased by PacTow this year. The first, Koranga, was deployed in Lae, PNG.
The newest addition was purchased and reflagged in Singapore before travelling to Makassar, Indonesia to top up fuel bunkers and freshwater supply.
Tavurvur is now permanently stationed in Port Moresby with a new crew that includes six PNG nationals.
PacTow general manager Neil Papenfus said the fleet expansion program is necessary for the continued growth of the company.
“We’ve diversified our service offerings, especially when it comes to servicing the oil and gas sector, while simultaneously delivering our services further afield,” Mr Papenfus said.
“For example, in the last few years we’ve had our tugs and crews in Indonesia, Micronesia, Northern Australia, and even in United States’ waters when conducting a tandem towage project for a client in Guam.”
Mr Papenfus said the two harbour tugs purchased this year enable the company to maintain its current service levels in Lae and Port Moresby, the largest and most important ports in the country.
Most of PacTow’s staff, almost all of whom are Melanesian, are based at the Port Moresby facility where Tavurvur will be stationed.
“Tavurvur and Koranga also help free up other tugs in our 21-vessel fleet for unscheduled projects such as emergency response and salvage just about anywhere in the region, as well as for unexpected maintenance” Mr Papenfus said.
