Pacific Towing (PacTow), a leading provider of marine services in the Pacific region, has significantly enhanced its towage capability in the Solomon Islands with the return of Tug Kavachi following a major dry-docking and refurbishment program in Singapore valued at SBD 8 million.
Tug Kavachi, a Solomon Islands-flagged vessel managed and operated by a full Solomon Islander crew, has resumed service at the Port of Honiara, joining the powerful ASD tug Pacific Salvor. Together, the two tugs provide a combined bollard pull of 90 tonnes — Pacific Salvor at 50 tonnes and Kavachi at 40 tonnes — enabling PacTow to perform two-tug harbour movements in Honiara for the first time.
This increased capacity allows the port to safely manoeuvre larger and more complex vessel arrivals and departures, supporting operational reliability while strengthening the Solomon Islands’ maritime infrastructure. In addition to servicing Honiara, PacTow now has the capability to service Noro Port via mobilisation.
PacTow General Manager Gerard Kasnari said the return of Kavachi marks a significant milestone in PacTow’s long-term commitment to safe and reliable harbour towage operations in the Solomon Islands.
“PacTow is now well positioned to support the growing volume and size of vessels calling into the port. This upgrade not only strengthens port operations but also contributes to the broader development of maritime infrastructure in the Solomon Islands,” he said.
“Investing in Kavachi’s extensive dry-docking and ensuring she continues to be crewed by Solomon Islanders reflects our commitment to maritime safety, reliability, and localisation,” Kasnari added.
Having served the Solomon Islands for more than a decade, PacTow is committed to developing local talent. In 2025, PacTow awarded maritime cadetship scholarships to four Solomon Islanders, who are currently enrolled at Fiji National University’s Pacific Centre for Maritime Studies (PCMS) as part of their cadetship programme.
Pacific Towing, part of Steamships Limited’s Logistics Division, is Melanesia’s largest marine services business. Employing over 250 staff and owning a fleet of 20 vessels, the business provides a broad spectrum of marine services, including towage, salvage, emergency response, commercial diving, and life raft services.
PacTow operates in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Its operations are underpinned by a strong commitment to safety, reliability, and local capability development.
To learn more about PacTow: www.pacifictowingmarineservices.com
