Harbour Towage Services News

On 18 July 2019, Moby held a naming ceremony for their new Damen ASD Tug 2813, Vincenzino O. in Cagliari as part of the company’s plans to upgrade its fleet.Moby’s CEO Achille Onorato says: “We are very proud to welcome this new tug to our fleet. The vessel, which carries the name of my son, Vincenzino O., introduces the sixth generation of our family to the sea and is a clear demonstration of our commitment to the community of Sardinia. We have enjoyed an excellent cooperation…

Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. (Boskalis) and KOTUG International B.V. (KOTUG) have reached agreement on the merger of their European harbour towage operations. The Memorandum of Understanding signed by the parties in late 2014 has now been formalized following a thorough process. The combined operations will be transferred to a 50/50 joint venture bringing together the European harbour towage activities of SMIT, a Boskalis subsidiary, and KOTUG. The operations will continue under the name KOTUG SMIT Towage. Peter Berdowski, CEO of Boskalis, "This joint venture is an important next step in the implementation of our harbour towage strategy aimed at concentrating and expanding our harbour towage services in regional partnerships.

The Gladstone Ports Corporation has awarded a five year exclusive license to SMIT for the provision of harbour towage services in the Port of Gladstone. The operation will start on the 1st of January 2011. Part of the agreement will include the provision of five new powerful 70 ton bollard pull harbour tugs for the duration of the license. The harbour towage services will be provided to all users of the port. Australia is a strategic growth market for SMIT for its harbour towage and terminals activities.

SMIT net profit in the first quarter of 2009 amounts to $38m. The result includes a net contribution of $13.5m from the financial settlement of the Thunderhorse project. Without this exceptional income item, net profit from normal operating activities showed a limited decrease compared to the first quarter of last year. This is mainly due to a lower profit at the Harbour Towage Division and a reduced supply of work at the Salvage Division. EBITDA rose considerably (including the Thunderhorse contribution and the results of associated companies) as compared to the same period in 2008. SMIT’s CEO, Ben Vree, said, “It is obvious that the present recession affects our industry as well.

•    Operating result for Harbour Towage increases, partly because of the extended interest in URS. •    Commencement of new contracts leads to growth Terminals. •    Result Salvage exceeds historical average. •    Considerable increase result Transport. •    Strongly improved result Heavy Lift in second half of the year. •    Net profit increases from EUR 105.6 million to EUR 107.8 million. •    Operating result increases 19% from EUR 94.7 million to EUR 112.5 million. •    EBITDA (including associated companies) rises 26% from EUR 159.4 million to EUR 201.0 million. •    Net profit per share decreases 9% from EUR 6.68 to EUR 6.11, owing to the issuing of shares. •    Proposed dividend per share remains EUR 3.00.

Kotug International B.V, the well known provider of harbour towage services in Rotterdam Hamburg and Bremerhaven, have announced the appointment of two professionals to join its team. Mr Dorus Knegtel, a director of the company will be responsible for strategic issues and Business Development. Quality and safety of the operations will also fall under his direction. Mr Kommer Tanis, as a member of the management team, will coordinate the salvage and offshore operations of the group and give nautical/technical and operational support in Business Development. “These appointments underline the commitment of the shareholders to pursue growth of the activities, while consolidating and optimising the present successful operations”, says Ard-Jan Kooren, president of the group.

Salvage and towage company, Multraship BV has added the former Red Funnel/Adsteam tug Hamtun to its fleet. The 1985-built, 3,500 IHP vessel has been renamed Multratug 16 and will mainly be deployed providing harbour towage services in the ports of Terneuzen and Flushing and on the Terneuzen-Ghent Canal. Multraship has also bought the former Dutch lifeboat Johannes Frederik, to operate as a fast-rescue tender providing emergency response services in the River Scheldt area. The vessel, now renamed Multraship Responder, will replace the Multrajet, which has been sold to the Congolese Ministry of Health.