Boluda Towage has signed an agreement to acquire Hessle-based company SMS Towage Ltd.
The acquisition involves taking over the harbour & offshore towage services and marine operations, together with the management, office staff, crew, and fleet, based in the UK.
Operating in the UK since 1992, first as a ship management company and since 2002 as a towage operator, SMS has emerged as a major player in the UK towage market. Currently, the company is operating in the UK ports/regions of Tyne, Tees, Humber, Portsmouth, South Wales, and Belfast with a fleet of 20 tugs.
The addition of SMS will strengthen the position of Boluda Towage, already operating in the ports of Invergordon (Cromarty Firth), London, Liverpool, and Southampton, in towage and sustainable maritime services, with a broader scope in the UK.
After the official closing of the transaction, SMS will be part of Boluda Towage’s organization in the United Kingdom, and the new brand name will be Boluda Towage SMS. The local management team of Boluda Towage SMS will report to Philip Dulson, General Manager of Boluda Towage in the UK.
Commenting on the sale, SMS Towage owner Paul Escreet said: “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.”
Vicente Boluda Fos, Chairman at Boluda Corporación Marítima, said that “to continue being leaders in the international maritime towing sector, our company needs to expand its scope of operations and we are proud that a professional company like SMS Towage wants to be part of our Group.”
Vice President executive, Boluda Towage, Mr. Vicente Boluda Ceballos, added: “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.”
