HALIFAX, NS - The Atlantic Ash and Atlantic Maple were officially named in a ceremony yesterday, September 18. The two new Rastar 3200 series escort tugs are joining the fleet in the Port of Halifax.

The vessels' sponsors, Melanie Nadeau, Chief Executive Office of COVE and Virginia Bonn, Manager, Business Development & Industrial Properties at Invest Nova Scotia, officially named the tugs during a ceremony attended by the Deputy Mayor of Halifax, Cathy Deagle-Gammon, along with representatives from Atlantic Towing, Svitzer and the Port of Halifax.

Prior to the Atlantic Ash and Atlantic Maple arriving in Halifax, three tugs were permanently stationed in Halifax, supplemented by two on-call vessels. The new Rastar 3200 vessels have replaced the on-call tugs, offering a more robust and permanent solution for customers.

"We're happy to officially welcome the Ash and Maple to our fleet in Halifax," said Sheldon Lace, General Manager of Atlantic Towing. "These two vessels are visible signs of our commitment to our partners and customers and supporting the growth within the Port of Halifax."

“We are proud to play a part in the growth of the Port of Halifax through our joint venture with Atlantic Towing. Atlantic Ash and Atlantic Maple symbolize both a significant investment and strong collaboration between the teams at Svitzer and Atlantic Towing,” said Arjen Van Dijk, Managing Director Svitzer Americas. “I wish Ash and Maple fair winds, following seas, and a prosperous journey.”

Atlantic Towing, based in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, has been serving the Port of Halifax for nearly 20 years and has partnered with Svitzer, headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, since 2010.

About Atlantic Towing

Headquartered in Saint John, New Brunswick, and with offices in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Victoria, British Columbia, and Point Fortin, Trinidad and Tobago, Atlantic Towing Limited specializes in the provision of diverse marine services including port tug services, coastal towing, offshore oil and gas exploration, and product support.

Its world class vessels are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and experienced, versatile crews. Both crewmembers and land-based personnel operate with safety, quality of service, and teamwork top of mind. The company is Green Marine certified. Atlantic Towing is a member of the J.D. Irving, Limited family of companies.

About Svitzer

Svitzer is a leading, global towage and marine services provider. The core business is to assist large seaborne vessels in manoeuvring in and out of ports and terminals to berth and unberth. With more than 450 vessels, Svitzer’s services play a crucial role as part of critical port infrastructure. Svitzer was founded in 1833 and serves approximately 2,000 customers in more than 140 ports and 40 terminals across 37 countries. Read more on www.svitzer.com

For further information, please contact:

Anne McInerney

Atlantic Towing Communications

Vice-President Communications