2025's most-read stories in International Tug & Salvage

Below, we feature some of the most-read stories from our digital pages this year in International Tug & Salvage.

To read each story in full, click on the headline, the image or the link at the end of the text.

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1. Three months to merge Boluda Towage and MedTug

Boluda Towage was set to merge with MedTug by the end of May 2025 – a move that would make the combined group the largest tugboat operator in the world. The deal would add 180 tugs to Boluda’s fleet, which operates in major ports across Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Indian Ocean.

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2. AP Moller Holdings set to repurchase Svitzer

AP Moller Holdings plans to take Svitzer back into private ownership – ending its time as a publicly listed tug operator. The move was reportedly part of a broader restructuring strategy aimed at streamlining its portfolio and strengthening tug and towage services under direct ownership.

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3. Boskalis finds buyer for Smit Lamnalco operations in Australia, raises global profits

Boskalis agreed to sell the towage and ship-handling operations of Smit Lamnalco in Australia and Papua New Guinea – part of a global rationalisation of its harbour towage business. The 2024 acquisition of the remaining 50% of the joint venture was consolidated in H1 2025, before the sale was initiated.

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4. Purchased tug upgraded for Engage Australian gig

Engage Marine purchased a 2004-built Chilean tug and sent it to a shipyard for extensive upgrades – including engineroom modifications, new tanks, piping and an off-ship fire-fighting system. Once refurbished and renamed Engage Ghost, the 223-gt vessel will sail to Australia for harbour towage and emergency response duties, ahead of Engage Marine’s planned deployment of newbuild harbour tugs in 2025.

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5. RockTree expands in Latin America through Atria acquisition

RockTree acquired Atria, strengthening its towage and salvage footprint in Latin America – a move that reflects growing demand for port and offshore services across the region as shipping flows evolve and global offshore activity expands.

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