SMIT At World Cross-Roads

In 1842, Smit International started its  activities with one paddle tug assisting  sailing ships from the North Sea to Rotterdam and back. This modest beginning  developed into a worldwide organisation  which is now called the Smit International  Group.
For years deepsea, coastal and harbour  towage, as well as salvage were the mainstay of the company’s activities. With  the development of offshore activities,  SMIT's involvements became more numerous and varied with offshore supply services, rig moves, anchor handling, heavy  and high lift operations, wreck removal,  marine offshore engineering, deepsea diving,  underwater survey and maintenance and  submersible barge operations. These are just  to name some of Smit International’s  worldwide activities.
The Smit International Group realised  that their expertise and experience are also  required in other parts of the world and  therefore a number of operating companies  was established all over the world.
Naturally, these companies were set up  in strategic positions around the globe.
For the Far East and South East Asia, the  obvious choice was Singapore, the crossroads of the world shipping lanes.
Since 1975, Smit International South  East Asia has had its home in Singapore and  during its time of existence has proved its  capability, ability for quick response and  expertise on numerous occasions.
Led by a handful of experienced men  from the parent company, a group of some  160 well trained, enthusiastic specialists  carry on the tradition of Smit International  in Asia.
They all have one objective — making  their tough and sometimes dangerous job a  success. All are proud to be members of  this outstanding organisation which has  integrated them fully into the company’s  family, and the company is equally proud  to have them under their flag.
Good international understanding grooms  in an atmosphere of mutual respect and the  preparedness to work together on equal basis
— all for one and one for all. Working in  SMIT is a challenge for the workers and  everyone benefits through the efforts of the  Group in the true ‘team spirit’. This is a  feeling which can only be appreciated when  one has to look into the tired but beaming  faces of the men who are satisfied to have  accomplished a task together and have a  right to be proud of it.
As expected Smit found this spirit as  much in Asia as everywhere else in the  world, the spirit of men who are determined  to face the elements and to win.
Besides the capability and spirit of the  men in the company, the equipment is one  very important factor which decides on  success or failure. Since its very first days,  the Smit International Group has never  settled for any inferior quality or inadequate  quantity of its equipment. Their tugs,  cranes, barges and salvage vessels are all of  first class construction and a top standard  of maintenance is kept. Since the company  operates worldwide, it can afford to carry  out constant research for new equipment  or methods. The vast experience gained is  used to the benefit of each client who requires the service.
The high standard of expertise combined  with the sophisticated equipment and the  good spirit of the men executing their task  are the key to the success of Smit International. It does not only benefit the clients  but is also invaluable to the area they  operate in. It goes without saying that,  especially in marine salvage, a well executed and swift operation can often mean the  prevention of extensive damage to property  and to the environment.
The combination of the generation-old  expertise and experience of the Smit International Group together with the local  knowledge of their Asian counterpart has  become another step towards mutual understanding and success.