The Virgin Islands Shipping Registry has for years sought to market the territory as a hub for registering ships from around the world, and officials said this week marked a major milestone: having a Svitzer tugboat registered in the VI.
Speaking at ceremony to mark the occasion, Premier Dr. Orlando Smith said that the Danish company, which specialises in towing shipping vessels, has recently opened an office at Wickhams Cay.
“The Virgin Islands as an established and pioneering centre for global business, secure and stable jurisdiction, and a world-renowned marine environment, is very conducive for establishing a shipping company,” Dr. Smith said.
Hanne is just the first of what should be many Svitzer vessels that will register here, and the company intends to have 20 ships registered here by next year, said Albert Snoei, the company’s head of operations for the Americas.
According to Mr. Snoei, the process of registering the first vessel went very smoothly.
“I am fairly confident that this is the start of a very good and long relationship,” he said.
See the Aug. 27, 2015 edition for full coverage.
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