A Request for Tender for emergency towage contracts was announced in December last year and was finalised in July following a rigorous assessment process.
AMSA Chief Executive Officer Graham Peachey said commercial shipping had worked hard to improve safety standards but Australia had to be prepared to respond to maritime casualty and pollution incidents at all times.
“A single major pollution incident can lead to huge losses to the marine environment, coastal communities, as well as commercial and recreational activities,” Mr Peachey said.
Under the contract arrangements, suitably equipped tugs will be required to respond at short notice to perform first-strike emergency towage services in the event of shipping incidents. These tugs will be based in ten regions around Australia.
“Two new regions have been added - Western Australia’s south-west and central Queensland – to reflect the increase in shipping in both these areas,” Mr Peachey said.
“AMSA will now have greater coverage of the Australian coast under the National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies, which aims to reduce the threat of marine pollution.”
SVITZER Australia was successful in securing the towage contracts for eight of the ten regions, while SMIT Marine Australia successfully tendered for the South Central Queensland region and Riverwijs-Dampier retained the contract for Western Australia’s north-west.
Mr Peachey said SVITZER Australia and Riverwijs-Dampier had provided the service for the last seven years.
“We have every confidence in SVITZER’s and Riverwijs-Dampier’s ability to continue to provide this capability and welcome the addition of SMIT Marine Australia in the provision of towage services in South Central Queensland,” he said.
The contracts will come into effect on August 1 for three years.