Denmark’s Svitzer Secures Major Towage Contract with Oman LNG

Denmark-based towage and marine services provider Svitzer has inked a significant nine-year contract with Oman LNG, a leading joint venture company involved in liquefied natural gas (LNG) operations in the Sultanate of Oman. The agreement entails the provision of towage services at the Qalhat LNG terminal in Sur, Oman.

The contract, described as “large” by Svitzer, encompasses the time charter of four state-of-the-art 65-ton bollard pull azimuth stern drive tugs. These tugs will play a crucial role in assisting vessels carrying LNG and natural gas liquids (NGL) during berthing and unberthing activities at the jetty in the Qalhat LNG terminal. Operations are scheduled to commence at the beginning of 2026.

Deniz Kirdar True, Svitzer’s Managing Director in Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (AMEA), expressed enthusiasm about the new partnership, stating, “This new contract not only aligns with Svitzer’s growth strategy, but also reinforces our presence in Oman and the wider region. We are honored that Oman LNG has entrusted us to manage their towage operations and are committed to delivering safe and reliable services at their terminal.”

Aside from towage services, Svitzer will also provide firefighting capabilities, escort duties, pilot boarding, and dive support at the Qalhat LNG terminal. The company has been actively involved in offering towage and marine services in Oman since 2005.

Oman LNG, a consortium consisting of the Omani government and several global energy players, operates a three-train liquefaction plant with a capacity of 10.4 million tonnes per annum at Qalhat. Recently, KBR secured a front-end engineering design (FEED) contract for the construction of a fourth train at the complex, which is anticipated to add a capacity of 3.8 million tonnes per annum.

In a significant development, Oman LNG recently delivered its first LNG shipment as part of long-term supply agreements with Shell. Shell signed a contract to purchase up to 1.6 million tonnes per annum of LNG from Oman LNG over the period of 2025–2034, solidifying its position as the largest buyer of natural gas from the Omani company.