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In memoriam: towage industry legend Ton Kooren obituary
1936-2025: Ton Kooren had a highly successful career in towage, inventing the Rotortug concept for tugboats and founding Kotug International
Ton Kooren transformed the world of towage through his relentless drive for innovation, high-quality tugboats and safety.
He passed away on 13 November 2025 after a successful career in worldwide towage that included inventing the Rotortug concept for tugboats and founding Kotug International.
Mr Kooren was a pioneer and a visionary in towage, and received the Sanmar Shipyards-sponsored ITS Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023 at the culmination of a gala dinner during the TugTechnology 23 conference in Rotterdam in May 2023.
Mr Kooren developed the innovative Rotortug design of tractor tugboats with three azimuth propellers for exceptional manoeuvrability and a high bollard pull for harbour, coastal and offshore towage and ship escort.
He joined the family tugboat business in the Netherlands in the late 1950s and oversaw its growth into an established tug company in the 1960s.
The company worked on the renowned Deltawerken project in Zeeland, protecting the Netherlands from North Sea surges and flooding.
Mr Kooren started the deepsea towage business Ton Kooren International Marine Services at the end of the 1970s. In the mid 1980s, he started Kotug International to challenge the monopoly of the established tug companies.
Mr Kooren mobilised strong, manoeuvrable US-built tractor tugs to Europe, which paved the way for innovation and healthy market forces in European harbour towage.
With his entrepreneurial mindset and deep knowledge of tug technology, Mr Kooren surprised the world with the Rotortug revolutionary vessel design, which was named vessel of the year, while Mr Kooren was appointed as a port man of the year.
In 2002, he handed over management of Kotug International to his son Ard-Jan Kooren to focus on optimising his innovative Rotortug. These tugs, designed in partnership with Robert Allan Ltd, are still in high demand with newbuilds delivered for operations from Australia to the US.
To this day, Kotug International carries out demanding towing operations and a broad range of maritime-related services around the world.
"His legacy extends far beyond Kotug as he inspired generations of maritime professionals and set new global standards for safety, innovation and sustainability," Kotug said in a LinkedIn post.
"His passion, ingenuity and courage to challenge convention will continue to guide Kotug’s mission and the industry he helped shape."
The 28th International Tug & Salvage Convention, Exhibition & Awards will be held in Gothenburg, Sweden, in association with Caterpillar, 19-21 May 2026. Use this link for more details of this industry event and the associated social and networking opportunities.
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