Press release -
Boa Tugs - new tug company at the Port of Gothenburg
In a short space of time, two new tug companies have established operations at the Port of Gothenburg. Last autumn it was the Danish company Nordane and now the Swedish company Boa Tugs has begun towing vessels at the port.
Previously, there was only one tug company at the Port of Gothenburg, Röda Bolaget, which changed name to Svitzer a few years ago. Now there are three competing tug companies at the port.
"The fact that a competitive situation has evolved is positive for our customers and we welcome Boa Tugs to the Port of Gothenburg," states Magnus Kårestedt, Port of Gothenburg chief executive.
Boa Tugs emerged the winner in the port's procurement of an emergency tug company and a fire boat. This means that Boa Tugs will assist vessels with towage in the event of an accident and will also assist in extinguishing fires, both ashore and on board other vessels.
"Just one of our tug boats can spray up to 40,000 litres of water per minute, which is an enormous capacity," states Anders Maiqvist, local manager for Boa Tugs.
If a fire were to break out at the port, Boa Tugs has been assigned to pump seawater into the port's water pipes used for firefighting – a vital task as a shortage of fresh water can arise quickly.
One of Boa Tugs' five vessels is a specially constructed 'escort vessel' designed to tow tankers. Such a vessel can take over control of the tanker if an accident were to occur. Previously, it was only Svitzer that could offer this service at thePortof Gothenburg.
For further information please contact Cecilia Carlsson, Media Relations Officer, on +46 31-731 22 45 or at cecilia.carlsson@portgot.se.
Fact file: Port of Gothenburg
The Port of Gothenburg is the largest port in the Nordic region with 11,000 visits by vessels each year. One-third of Swedish foreign trade passes through the Port of Gothenburg as well as 65 per cent of all container traffic.
The Port of Gothenburg is the only port in Sweden with the capacity to receive the world's largest container vessels and has the broadest range of shipping routes within and outside Europe. The 26 rail shuttles that depart each day mean that companies throughout Sweden and Norway have a direct, environmentally smart link to the largest port in the Nordic region. The Port of Gothenburg has terminals for oil, cars, ro-ro, containers and passengers.
