26-06-2025
'Pinch-yourself moment': new tug boat's grand Newcastle entrance
WHAT an entrance.
Svitzer Barrington, named after Barrington Tops, arrived at its new home at the Port of Newcastle's tug base on Thursday, June 26.
To welcome it, a guard of honour was formed by eight tugs as the new vessel crossed the sand bar of Nobbys Heads.
The tugs then formed a circle for the Barrington to move into the centre and complete donuts as Novocastrians watched on, the sound of horns echoing along the foreshore.
At the helm was fleet training superintendent and tug master Ben Holder, who steered the tug into the harbour in a showcase of its agility.
"It was a real privilege to bring such an innovative tug into Newcastle," Mr Holder said.
"Taking her sideways through the cut at seven knots was a pinch-yourself moment. Despite her size and incredible stability, she handles like a go-kart."
The 32-metre Transverse tug is the first of its kind in Australia. It was built in Turkey and sailed to Australia via the Mediterranean, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Panama Canal and Pacific Ocean.
It is billed as representing a generational advancement in towage standards, innovation and performance.
Svitzer Australia chief operating officer David Phillips said the tug class was purpose-built for versatility and power, making it different to other tug designs by Svitzer.
"It's maintaining high steering and braking forces through a range of movements without losing the dynamism or responsiveness required by marine pilots," he said.
"This includes a patented half-circle towing staple which is able to support advanced towing manoeuvres and a double-ended hull."
"It's a new design with leading-edge technology."
Mr Phillips said Svitzer Barrington was deployed to the Port of Newcastle because "it's one of the busiest ports in Australia".
"[The Port] services a range of large vessel types in complex tidal and weather conditions," he said.
The port hosts more than 4500 vessel visits per year, including large capesize vessels shipping coal, bulk grain and agricultural vessels, container ships, breakbulk freight and cruise vessels.
The demand for tugs to assist these vessels safely in and out of the terminal continues to increase, Mr Phillips said.
"We chose Newcastle because this vessel is built to high specs to demonstrate its capability an,d it's a great opportunity to showcase and support our largest port. We're very excited about it," he said.
A sister tug is expected to join the Port of Newcastle in mid to late August.
WHAT an entrance.
Svitzer Barrington, named after Barrington Tops, arrived at its new home at the Port of Newcastle's tug base on Thursday, June 26.
To welcome it, a guard of honour was formed by eight tugs as the new vessel crossed the sand bar of Nobbys Heads.
The tugs then formed a circle for the Barrington to move into the centre and complete donuts as Novocastrians watched on, the sound of horns echoing along the foreshore.
At the helm was fleet training superintendent and tug master Ben Holder, who steered the tug into the harbour in a showcase of its agility.
"It was a real privilege to bring such an innovative tug into Newcastle," Mr Holder said.
"Taking her sideways through the cut at seven knots was a pinch-yourself moment. Despite her size and incredible stability, she handles like a go-kart."
The 32-metre Transverse tug is the first of its kind in Australia. It was built in Turkey and sailed to Australia via the Mediterranean, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Panama Canal and Pacific Ocean.
It is billed as representing a generational advancement in towage standards, innovation and performance.
Svitzer Australia chief operating officer David Phillips said the tug class was purpose-built for versatility and power, making it different to other tug designs by Svitzer.
"It's maintaining high steering and braking forces through a range of movements without losing the dynamism or responsiveness required by marine pilots," he said.
"This includes a patented half-circle towing staple which is able to support advanced towing manoeuvres and a double-ended hull."
"It's a new design with leading-edge technology."
Mr Phillips said Svitzer Barrington was deployed to the Port of Newcastle because "it's one of the busiest ports in Australia".
"[The Port] services a range of large vessel types in complex tidal and weather conditions," he said.
The port hosts more than 4500 vessel visits per year, including large capesize vessels shipping coal, bulk grain and agricultural vessels, container ships, breakbulk freight and cruise vessels.
The demand for tugs to assist these vessels safely in and out of the terminal continues to increase, Mr Phillips said.
"We chose Newcastle because this vessel is built to high specs to demonstrate its capability an,d it's a great opportunity to showcase and support our largest port. We're very excited about it," he said.
A sister tug is expected to join the Port of Newcastle in mid to late August.
WHAT an entrance.
Svitzer Barrington, named after Barrington Tops, arrived at its new home at the Port of Newcastle's tug base on Thursday, June 26.
To welcome it, a guard of honour was formed by eight tugs as the new vessel crossed the sand bar of Nobbys Heads.
The tugs then formed a circle for the Barrington to move into the centre and complete donuts as Novocastrians watched on, the sound of horns echoing along the foreshore.
At the helm was fleet training superintendent and tug master Ben Holder, who steered the tug into the harbour in a showcase of its agility.
"It was a real privilege to bring such an innovative tug into Newcastle," Mr Holder said.
"Taking her sideways through the cut at seven knots was a pinch-yourself moment. Despite her size and incredible stability, she handles like a go-kart."
The 32-metre Transverse tug is the first of its kind in Australia. It was built in Turkey and sailed to Australia via the Mediterranean, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Panama Canal and Pacific Ocean.
It is billed as representing a generational advancement in towage standards, innovation and performance.
Svitzer Australia chief operating officer David Phillips said the tug class was purpose-built for versatility and power, making it different to other tug designs by Svitzer.
"It's maintaining high steering and braking forces through a range of movements without losing the dynamism or responsiveness required by marine pilots," he said.
"This includes a patented half-circle towing staple which is able to support advanced towing manoeuvres and a double-ended hull."
"It's a new design with leading-edge technology."
Mr Phillips said Svitzer Barrington was deployed to the Port of Newcastle because "it's one of the busiest ports in Australia".
"[The Port] services a range of large vessel types in complex tidal and weather conditions," he said.
The port hosts more than 4500 vessel visits per year, including large capesize vessels shipping coal, bulk grain and agricultural vessels, container ships, breakbulk freight and cruise vessels.
The demand for tugs to assist these vessels safely in and out of the terminal continues to increase, Mr Phillips said.
"We chose Newcastle because this vessel is built to high specs to demonstrate its capability an,d it's a great opportunity to showcase and support our largest port. We're very excited about it," he said.
A sister tug is expected to join the Port of Newcastle in mid to late August.
WHAT an entrance.
Svitzer Barrington, named after Barrington Tops, arrived at its new home at the Port of Newcastle's tug base on Thursday, June 26.
To welcome it, a guard of honour was formed by eight tugs as the new vessel crossed the sand bar of Nobbys Heads.
The tugs then formed a circle for the Barrington to move into the centre and complete donuts as Novocastrians watched on, the sound of horns echoing along the foreshore.
At the helm was fleet training superintendent and tug master Ben Holder, who steered the tug into the harbour in a showcase of its agility.
"It was a real privilege to bring such an innovative tug into Newcastle," Mr Holder said.
"Taking her sideways through the cut at seven knots was a pinch-yourself moment. Despite her size and incredible stability, she handles like a go-kart."
The 32-metre Transverse tug is the first of its kind in Australia. It was built in Turkey and sailed to Australia via the Mediterranean, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Panama Canal and Pacific Ocean.
It is billed as representing a generational advancement in towage standards, innovation and performance.
Svitzer Australia chief operating officer David Phillips said the tug class was purpose-built for versatility and power, making it different to other tug designs by Svitzer.
"It's maintaining high steering and braking forces through a range of movements without losing the dynamism or responsiveness required by marine pilots," he said.
"This includes a patented half-circle towing staple which is able to support advanced towing manoeuvres and a double-ended hull."
"It's a new design with leading-edge technology."
Mr Phillips said Svitzer Barrington was deployed to the Port of Newcastle because "it's one of the busiest ports in Australia".
"[The Port] services a range of large vessel types in complex tidal and weather conditions," he said.
The port hosts more than 4500 vessel visits per year, including large capesize vessels shipping coal, bulk grain and agricultural vessels, container ships, breakbulk freight and cruise vessels.
The demand for tugs to assist these vessels safely in and out of the terminal continues to increase, Mr Phillips said.
"We chose Newcastle because this vessel is built to high specs to demonstrate its capability an,d it's a great opportunity to showcase and support our largest port. We're very excited about it," he said.
A sister tug is expected to join the Port of Newcastle in mid to late August.
