Prime Minister inaugurates new state of the art tugboat

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat last week inaugurated a new state of the art tug boat, owned by Tug Malta.

This inauguration, he said in a short address, represents the strides we have made as a country, from independence to the success story that we are today. Tug Malta’s development over the years itself mirrors this journey. Starting from a government initiative, bringing together in cooperation small operators in the towage services, it grew in stature and capability gaining the confidence that it could meet Malta’s emerging and fast growing maritime needs.

“As our port operations grew, shifting towards the growing importance of Malta Freeport as a major logistics hub in the Mediterranean, Tug Malta attracted the attention of big players in the industry. Through the privatisation process launched in 2006, Tug Malta partnered with Rimorchiatori Riuniti Group of Geneva, and made the necessary leap to spearhead Malta’s growing economy and Maritime expansion. The success of this partnership is a perfect example of how public and private interests can be mutually beneficial, bringing the right expertise and impetus from the private sector to such a vital sector of our economy,” Muscat said.

Tug Malta’s relationship with Transport Malta remains fundamental to our vision to turn Malta from a small localised port to global player in the maritime sector, the PM said. The new vessels commissioned by Tug Malta, are a clear indication of this ambition and Tug Malta’s readiness to meet it. With an investment of €24 million in three new tugs, Tug Malta will be able to provide services to even bigger vessels that our harbours are attracting.

More crucially, this new fleet will also be able to service our LNG needs, particularly with regards to safety and emergency services, further extenuating Malta’s leap forward we have experienced over the past five years, he said.