URAG - Lütgens & Reimers

URAG is a historic European company with 126 years of history, founded to meet freight traffic demand on the Weser River as it passed through the city of Bremen, in the late nineteenth century. Since then it has evolved and specialized, and is currently one of the leading German towage companies, with a fleet of state-of-the-art vessels and a strategic presence in the major German ports.

Change of ownership

• In 1989, the 100 percent share in URAG was transferred from Metallgesellschaft to Lehnkering Montan Transport (today VTG-Lehnkering AG). URAG took over 100% of the tug shipping company Lütgens & Reimers (L&R) from Hapag-Lloyd and 20% of the tug fleet from Norddeutscher Lloyd .
• In 1999, Lehnkering Montan Transport was incorporated into the Preussag Group of Hapag-Lloyd AG.
• In 2001, URAG together with the Forschungsschiffahrt shipping company and Wiking Helikopter Service were sold to the medium-sized family business Linnhoff Schiffahrt in Buxtehude .

In 2017, the Boluda Towage Division acquired the companies URAG and Lütgens & Reimers.

KST (Kotug Smit Towage)

Kotug Smit Towage was established in 2016 through the merger of Kotug (part of Kotug International) and Smit (owned by Royal Boskalis). The company had a leading presence in 12 ports in 4 European countries (the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany), which has led to increased growth and smarter towing operations with a modern and efficient fleet of around 70 tugs.

KotugSmit Towage was incorporated in Boluda Corporación Maritima in August 2019.

The roots of KST's German subsidiaries go back to the 90’s, when its legal predecessor (Kotug) commenced towage activities in Germany.

• In 1996, Kotug GmbH was established to serve its customers in the area around Hamburg and on river Elbe with a versatile fleet of modern tugs. The company became a reliable partner of vessel owners and assisted all types of vessels, like container vessels, car- and bulk carriers as well as all sizes of tankers.
• 1999 Bremerhaven, Kotug GmbH started towage services in Bremerhaven. Since then, the company proved to be a highly reliable and professional partner in Bremerhaven. Together with its tug masters, the company invested considerable amounts of time and resources in improving port operations by joining simulator training sessions with our customers at local simulation centres.
• One of the main drivers for continuous successful operations in the Port of Bremerhaven was the Rotortug. The development of this propulsion system is based on many years of practical and technical experience in the towage field. Particularly in Bremerhaven, The Rotortug system proved to be crucial for safe and efficient operations, as they are very reliable in performing smooth tug assistance throughout the lock.