Boluda Towage Australasia began work earlier this month after the Boluda Corporación Marítima bought the business of Smit Lamnalco in the Australian and Papua New Guinea regions at the end of the month.
Shipping Australia understands that shareholders involved in the transaction decided to keep the process confidential until conclusion of the deal.
We further understand that there will be no changes to the fleet, operations, management team or employee arrangements that would affect the daily delivery of services.
“Looking ahead, the future is very bright. Boluda Towage is the world’s leading towage company, dedicated exclusively to harbour and terminal operations,” a statement to business partners reads. “They [Boluda] bring global scale, deep industry expertise, and a long-term commitment to the business we know. Their leadership in sustainability, innovation, and fleet renewal will enhance our ability to deliver safe, reliable, and environmentally responsible towage service”.
Boluda reports that the deal has added 39 modern tugs to the Boluda network, with operations in nine ports, a regional headquarters in Sydney and 400 new maritime professionals. The ports of Weipa, Townsville, Mackay, Gladstone, Brisbane, Newcastle, Botany, Melbourne, and Papua New Guinea are now in Boluda’s network.
“This integration not only enhances service capabilities for international clients but also allows Boluda Towage to consolidate its position in Asia, where it already operates in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Timor-Leste. From this new base in Australia, the company can more efficiently connect local resource production with key consumer markets, particularly in Asia, ensuring the continuity of global trade flows,” the company said in a statement.
Boluda has been on somewhat of a buying spree in the last few years.
In 2017, Boluda acquired the German towage companies of Unterweder Reederei, and also Lutgens & Reimers.
On 1st August 2019, Boluda acquired Kotug Smit Towage.
Then, in February 2021, it bought the harbour and offshore activities of Iskes Towage & Salvage. That was followed in turn by the purchase of the Scottish Caledonian Towage in December 2021.
Founded in 1837, the company now offers maritime services in Europe, Africa, Latin America and across the Indian Ocean. The company is organised into two services – Boluda Towage, and Boluda Shipping. The latter offers land / sea transport and operates a fleet of 15 container ships ranging in size from a few hundred TEU to over 1,000 TEU.
