Svitzer Tugs (UK)

by Bernard McCall

The story of Em. Z. Svitzers Bjergningsentreprise (Svitzer) begins in 1833 when Emil Zeuthen Svitzer, a Danish entrepreneur, established a salvage business after noticing many losses occurring on trade routes to and from Denmark. Its business extended to harbour towage in due course. The company has expanded considerably over the past two decades and claims to have 430 vessels working in about 100 different locations throughout the world.

Because of the huge size of the Svitzer fleet, the topic is in two volumes. This first volume looks at the company’s tugs working in the UK and it will be followed by the second volume which will cover tugs working outside the UK. The album is organised in chronological order according to year of construction, the exception being at the end of the book where the latest Milford Haven tugs are grouped together.

This is a very good book with the Coastal Shipping’s usual excellent quality of photos and I would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in tugs and towage.