Full steam ahead: Boluda adds more tugs to global fleet

In an official statement, the company said it ‘takes a new step in its global expansion’ with the deal, which includes the tugs and servicing of Seatrium’s shipyard towage needs in one of the world’s busiest port hubs.

Boluda said the acquisition strengthens its position in Southeast Asia, a region it has targeted for growth over the past five years. The company already operates a regional fleet and network across Singapore and Malaysia, supported by operations in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong and Timor-Leste.

“The integration of Seatrium Group’s harbour tug fleet enables Boluda Towage to strengthen its role as a key partner for shipping lines, terminals, and logistics operators,” the company said.

Spending spree

The Singapore deal is just another in a long list of acquisitions made by Boluda over the past decade, largely through transactions announced in its own corporate statements.

One key purchase was made in 2019, when it snapped up Dutch operator Kotug Smit Towage. Boluda said at the time that the deal would strengthen the company’s position as European tugboat market leader and expand its footprint across major ports in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom.

The purchase added 67 tugboats to the fleet, taking the total to more than 300 vessels operating in 90 ports across 15 countries, Boluda said.

Subsequent acquisitions have continued to add capacity and geographic reach. In 2024, Boluda acquired Resolve Salvage and Fire, incorporating additional vessels including the Elliot, Hercules, Rooke and Wellington. The company said the move would “increase its service and support potential and capacity” in the strategically important Strait of Gibraltar.

More recent transactions have focused on large-scale consolidation. Boluda’s acquisition activity in 2025, including major fleet additions, cemented its position at the top of global towage rankings.

Fleet scale and technical profile

Boluda’s growth has been driven by buy-ups and operational scope, with a mix of harbour, coastal and offshore tugs designed for ship-handling, escort duties, salvage operations and support for offshore installations.

Modern harbour tugs in Boluda’s fleet typically feature:

• Azimuth stern drive (ASD) propulsion, allowing 360-degree manoeuvrability
• High bollard pull ratings, enabling them to handle large container ships and tankers
• Advanced firefighting and escort capabilities for safety-critical port operations.

Through these successive acquisitions, the fleet has expanded to several hundred vessels globally. Corporate data indicates operations spanning more than 200 ports across Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, with total fleet size exceeding 800 vessels in recent years.

This scale places Boluda among the largest towage operators worldwide. By comparison, other major players such as Svitzer and SAAM Towage operate substantial international fleets but at a smaller overall vessel count and with more regionally concentrated networks.

Global port network focus

Boluda, which began life in early 20^th century Spanish tug activities, has now consolidated regional operators into a single global network and developed into a multinational operator.

The Seatrium purchase targets a major logistics hub where towage services are critical to port efficiency. Singapore sits on important east–west trade routes, and towage operations there are vital.

Now with more than 150 tugboats in the Asia-Pacific, yet further expansion will be possible, the company says.

“With this new acquisition, Boluda Towage reinforces its position in Singapore and Malaysia, expanding its footprint in the Asian market,” the company said.

Boluda’s vessels operate in a wide range of environments, from congested container terminals to offshore energy installations, providing services including berthing assistance, escort towing and emergency response.