Fairplay, Multraship start new tug service in Antwerp

Fairplay, Multraship start new tug service in Antwerp Hamburg-based Fairplay Towage and Dutch towage and salvage specialist Multraship have jointly launched a new company to provide towage services in Antwerp, the companies said Thursday.
   Antwerp Towage NV, a 50-50 joint venture between Fairplay and Multraship, is the first new initiative launched by the two companies since August, when Fairplay took a 50-percent stake in Multraship. They joined forces “to create a platform to strengthen their strategic position and to expand their activities jointly.”
   “The startup of Antwerp Towage NV this week is an important part of the joint overall philosophy of Fairplay and Multraship to significantly strengthen harbor towage services in northwest European ports,” the companies said in a statement.
   The tugs deployed initially will be the Fairplay 22, Multratug 5, Fairplay 17 and Multratug 10, providing a four-vessel fleet serving the river areas of the port of Antwerp. Eventually, there are plans to replace these tugs with newbuildings, the companies added.