Fairplay and Multraship join forces

Leendert Muller, managing director of Multraship said, ‘Joining forces with Fairplay creates a strong platform for growth for the company. Both firms are family owned, with deep experience in towage and salvage. We have had good relations for some time, we have the same mindset, we have vessels on charter to Fairplay, and this investment makes good sense by delivering us better access to capital, resources and the market. In an increasingly global market this allows us to move our already strong company up a notch.’

Under the agreement each company will continue to operate independently and the vessels will retain their traditional livery. Multraship will continue to be managed by the existing family board and management team. Expansion of the office staff and tug crews is anticipated as the company takes delivery of new vessels and expands into new markets.

Multraship is a leading Dutch towage and salvage company based in Terneuzen. Run by the Muller family, it draws on more than ninety years of experience. Its core operations include salvage, wreck removal, harbour towage, coastal and deep sea towage, services to the dredging and offshore industries and support for inland navigation. It operates and manages a fleet of 32 well equipped tugs, salvage vessels, floating sheerlegs and other craft.

Fairplay’s managing director Joerg Mainzer explained that by joining forces the two companies will be in a better position to develop their interests in emerging markets. Fairplay Towage are now heavily engaged in Hamburg, Rotterdam, Rostock Wismar, Swinoujscie and Szczecin and Multraship are working hard to expand their interests in the Black Sea.

Both companies have ongoing building programmes. Fairplay are about to take delivery of the first of two new 85 tons bollard pull tugs designed for shiphandling and offshore operation. The first, Fairplay 30, will be completed by the Spanish shipyard Astilleros Armon and its sister ship Fairplay 31 will follow at the end of 2008. Also on order from Armon are two further 25m ‘compact’ tugs of the Fairplay 1 type with 65 tons bollard pull. Multraship will take delivery of the new Multratug 18, sister to the 70 tonnes bollard pull Multratug 17, later in the year ( see Maritime Journal – July 2008). The Dutch company also has the two long awaited and unique, 80 tons bollard pull, Carrousel equipped ‘Combi’ tugs under construction in a Malaysian yard.