Pacific Towing (PacTow)

Nearly forty (40) seafaring professionals aboard three tugs, and two line boats participated in the project which involved escorting, berthing, and unberthing the 274-metre-long crude oil tanker – ‘Marlin Sicily’. PacTow commercial divers also provided pollution prevention services for Puma when the vessel discharged her fuel.

Tugs Keera, Langila and Werra were deployed from the Motukea tug base early on 17 October to escort the crude oil tanker safely across Fairfax Harbour after she had cleared customs.

The firm said Captain Marcelo Santini will help ‘PacTow’ take advantage of international project opportunities, further increase its salvage capabilities and add to the company’s oil and gas expertise. 

“Captain Santini is a senior and salvage master with over 35 years of maritime experience (river and open ocean),” outlined PacTow.

PacTow runs two cadetship programs; its own internal program as well as its ‘Women in Maritime’ scholarship program, a partnership with the Australian government’s Australia Awards and the China Navigation Company.  Cadets from both programs have been participating in the dry-docking and maintenance of several vessels, including the tugboat Wombi.