ABOUT US
More than 650 years of combined history
OUR HERITAGE
Boluda Towage Europe, a group of companies:
- SMS Towage
- Caledonian Towage (J.P. Knight)
- Iskes Towage & Salvage
- Kotug Smit Towage (a former joint venture between Smit/URS/Kotug/Alexandra Towing)
- Lutgens & Reimers
- Unterweser Reederei
BOLUDA TOWAGE EUROPE
A group of companies
The world is changing very fast. Borders are fading. Adapting to this new reality is essential for success. With decades of combined heritage and a flexible approach, we take part in this challenge. Our heritage is what we breathe and what we are well known for. Our roots are unmistakably European, just like our long history.
In 2017, Boluda Corporacion Maritima acquired the German towage companies of Unterweder Reederei and Lutgens & Reimers. Subsequently, on 1st August 2019, Boluda Corporación Marítima acquired Kotug Smit Towage. In February 2021, the harbour & offshore activities of Iskes Towage & Salvage has been acquired, followed by the acquisition of the Scottish Caledonian Towage in December 2021. And the most recent acquisition of the British SMS Towage took place in May 2024.
Under the new brand name Boluda Towage, we together started a new journey.
We are providing tailored towage services in the major global ports, always putting our customers’ needs first. And continue to lead them safely into the harbors. Every port is a world of its own with specific circumstances, regulations, and culture. Our management, office staff, and crew are built of locals, and to them the port region has no secrets. We mix crews, to share experiences and broaden the scope of our people on the tugs in the ports.
After the incorporation into the Boluda Towage Division, we can benefit from the support of a ship-owner with a very strong maritime heritage. Boluda Corporación Marítima was established in 1837 and is a family-owned company. The company started its port tug activities in Valencia (Spain) in 1920.
Nowadays, Boluda Towage is one of the world’s leaders in maritime services. The company has a worldwide presence and operates a fleet of more than 400 vessels in 100 ports in 18 countries on 4 continents of Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. Next to port towage, we also provide offshore & ocean towage and salvage operations.
TAILORED TOWAGE SERVICES
With about decades of combined heritage, we are passionate about assisting ships safely. Our large fleet of tugs provides tailored towage services in multiple global ports. We focus on our customers’ needs through operational efficiency and flexibility and understand their expectations.
PEOPLE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
We believe that towage is all about people. The success of our company depends on the people working for us. Their contribution, their added value to the organisation and their willingness to commit to our core values are all highly valued. Our culture, our conduct and our business approach are based on core values.
Social Responsibility
policies
Boluda Towage Europe is committed to conducting its business with honesty and integrity. We expect all our staff to maintain high standards in accordance with our Anti-Bribery Policy, Modern Slavery Policy, and Code of Conduct.
Boluda Towage Europe encourages its staff to report suspected wrongdoing as soon as possible, in the knowledge that their concerns will be taken seriously and investigated as appropriate, and that their confidentiality will be respected.
Furthermore, we provide our staff with guidance as to how to raise those concerns. We reassure our staff that they should be able to raise genuine concerns without fear of reprisals, even if they turn out to be mistaken.
Our Social Responsibility policies apply to all employees, officers, consultants, contractors, volunteers, casual workers, and agency workers.
LEADING IN SAFE HARBOUR TOWAGE
Health, Safety, Quality & Environment are high-priority topics within our organization.
The key driver is to continually improve our standards in safe working with the goal of zero harm to the people or the environment.
It is our duty to execute operations that conform to contractual and regulatory requirements meeting customers' and stakeholders’ demands.
Health & Safety
We have the objective to provide a safe workplace and prevent incidents by identifying, eliminating, or mitigating risks and hazards for all our employees and customers. Also, our crews make sure the tugboats are always in the best state, both mechanically and looking their best.
Quality standards integrated
Health, safety, and environment are managed in a systematic manner compliant with the requirements of the International Safety Management Code 2017 and branch/ industry standards. Additionally, the following principles are in place to encourage safe working:
Our Integrated Management system systematically describes controls and assures with the aim:
- Comply with or meet health & safety and environmental legislative and customer requirements;
- Implement established safe work practices for our operations
- Register and analyze incidents and near-misses to learn from them
- Apply risk management and therefore risks will be reduced towards "As Low As Reasonable Practicable" (ALARP)
- Steering and learning of the organization by means of Key Performance Indicators
- Maintain safe and healthy working conditions, provide and maintain plant, equipment, and machinery, and ensure safe storage/use of substances
- Be prepared for and ensure proper response to emergency situations
- Maintain and follow an integrated management system
Training
We care for our people. We mix crews, to share experiences. Vast experience and the latest knowledge come together, calm seniority and eager young blood. Even when it comes to the youngsters on our tugs, they are mentored and trained by our most experienced tug master.
Training programs for our crew take place both in our simulation center and real-live on the tugs.
Front runner in reducing emissions
Boluda Towage Europe has made considerable investments in reducing emissions from harbour tugs to cut pollution in ports. We reduced the environmental footprint of our tugboat fleet by investing in hybrid propulsion and complying with IMO Tier III emissions requirements.
Next to these sustainable achievements, Boluda Towage studies more low-emission projects. In the long term, hydrogen could be the best zero-emissions fuel, but it comes with challenges.
