Boluda Towage has signed an agreement to acquire the British company SMS Towage. The signing ceremony took place in Hessle (Hull).
This acquisition includes taking over SMS’s harbour and offshore towage services, marine operations, management, office staff, crew, and fleet based in the United Kingdom.
SMS Towage has been operating in the UK since 1992, initially as a ship management company and, since 2002, as a towage operator. It has become a major player in the UK towage market, operating in ports and regions such as Tyne, Tees, Humber, Portsmouth, South Wales, and Belfast, with a fleet of 20 tugs.
This acquisition will bolster Boluda Towage’s position as a global leader in towage and sustainable maritime services, enhancing its presence in the UK. Boluda Towage UK already operates in the ports of Invergordon (Cromarty Firth), London, Liverpool, and Southampton, and the addition of SMS’s operations will create a complementary geographical footprint.
Following the official completion of the transaction, SMS will become part of Boluda Towage’s UK organization and will be rebranded as Boluda Towage SMS. The local management team of Boluda Towage SMS will report to Philip Dulson, general manager of Boluda Towage in the UK.
“The decision for us to accept the opportunity to sell SMS Towage to Boluda Towage came at just the right time, as we embark on a new chapter of business growth and development. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the entire team for their unwavering dedication and hard work while working within SMS Towage. You have been the backbone of our success, and I am confident that under Boluda’s ownership, SMS Towage will continue to thrive. My best wishes go out to each one of you as you embrace this exciting transition,” commented on the sale, Paul Escreet, owner of SMS Towage.
According to a statement, the newly renamed Boluda Towage SMS offers high-standard towage and marine services and is ISM certified, demonstrating its commitment to safety and quality. Driven by passion and a forward-thinking approach, Boluda Towage SMS has consistently provided exceptional service to customers and is poised for continued growth as the companies embark on this new chapter together.
As operations become more integrated, the sharing of experience, expertise, and best practices will create additional value. This combined operation enables Boluda Towage to meet the increasing demands of the maritime industry, delivering enhanced efficiency and optimized port calls for our customers in the UK.
“The strong local team, with highly engaged colleagues, will bring a lot of experience and expertise to our company. Having exciting times ahead of us we certainly intend to deploy SMS Towage’s professional crews and experienced employees on future projects,” stated Vicente Boluda Ceballos, vice president executive Boluda Towage.
