Riverwijs upgrades Dampier tugs

The Maryon, Karoline, Fiona and Maria have been formally named in a ceremony at King Bay Supply Base in Dampier.

The ceremony also commemorated the long service of the former Riverwijs boats, Claudine, Gillian, Edwina and Olivia.

Purpose-built for berthing liquefied natural gas tankers, the tugs have been contracted to service the Woodside-operated North West Shelf Venture facilities and will work out of Dampier and the Withnell Bay Terminal.

Riverwijs also provides towage services in the port at the Dampier Cargo Wharf and Bulk Liquid Facility.

The tugs are capable of producing 65 tonnes bollard pull, compared with the 50 tonnes of their predecessors.

They have an overall length of 30.8 metres, beam of 11 metres, maximum draught of five metres and can travel at up to 12.5 knots.

They are equipped with advanced firefighting technology and first-response salvage capability.

Riverwijs is a joint venture company formed by Brisbane's Riverside Marine and Danish operator Svitzer.