News that Dutch tug owner Seacontractors has sold its smaller vessels to France-based Jifmar marks a strategic change of business direction for the company.
It also means further expansion for Jifmar, which has steadily grown its presence in the workboat sector since inception just 20 years ago.
The agreement involves Jifmar taking ownership of 15 tugs in the 50 tons bollard pull and below bracket from Seacontractors, which is concentrating on larger anchor-handling tugs (AHT) and anchor-handling tug supply vessels (AHTS).
Seacontractors’ new fleet, listed in a re-launched website, now comprises eight vessels in the 70-200+ ton bollard pull class, its business model now focusing on anchor handling, terminal towage, deep-sea and coastal towage, along with other operations and projects.
Jifmar’s activities, concentrated in the shallow-draught sector, offer a diverse fleet of more than 70 vessels, including workboats, tugs, crew transfer vessels, supply vessels and patrol boats.
It also manages the wind-assisted roro cargo vessel Canopée, which was designed to transport Ariane 6 rocket components between Europe and French Guiana.
Transaction details
The transaction was conducted with support from JBR and Vulcain-Clearwater, financial advisors for both companies.
Seacontractors’ office team in the Middle East, along with the vessels’ crews, will transfer to Jifmar Group as it continues to execute ongoing projects and deliver maritime services, Seacontractors providing support during the handover period ensuring a seamless transition.
“By expanding our fleet, we will strengthen our ability to support clients worldwide” said Jean-Michel Berud, Jifmar CEO. “Our new structure and reinforced presence in the Middle East will extend our reach across the Eastern regions. We are delighted to welcome the Seacontractors team and crew into the Jifmar family.”
Seacontractors’ fleet reduction should not be seen as a retrograde step, rather a change of direction into larger, more sophisticated vessels in a slightly different sector.
With renewed appetite for offshore O&G development (alongside decommissioning of aged infrastructure) and steady growth in offshore renewables, demand for powerful AHT and AHTS vessels is evident once again.
“This strategic step allows us to fully concentrate on expanding and operating a fleet capable of handling the most demanding offshore and towage projects,” said Seacontractors owner Xander Schanssema.
“We thank our colleagues and crew in the Middle East for their commitment over the years, and we are confident that the transition to Jifmar Group will ensure continued service excellence in the region.”
New-look Seacontractors
Early indications of Seacontractors changing up a gear came early in 2025 with acquisition of the 120tbp Chinese-built sister AHTs Sentosa and Seraya, both renamed with the company’s standard Sea prefix.
Sea Seraya was one of two tugs that marked a change of direction for Seacontractors
Another indication of change of direction was Seacontractors saying at the time: “As the maritime industry evolves, Seacontractors remains at the forefront, ready to meet the ever-changing demands of its valued clients.”
Built in 2013, both vessels have respected pedigrees, originally operated by Smit Singapore Pte, later becoming part of the Boskalis fleet (which took over Smit International in 2010), whereafter they lost the Smit prefix to their names.
Later in 2025, the next development for Seacontractors saw the addition of the 175tbp, ex-DOF AHTS sister vessels Skandi Tender and Skandi Trader, part of a 10-vessel series of VS472 design AHTSs built in Norway between 2008 and 2009, all originally part of Maersk’s family of offshore vessels.
To be renamed Sea Banckert and Sea Evertsen respectively and flying the Dutch flag they are a step-up from the earlier Sentosa and Seraya twins.
Making up Seacontractors’ revised fleet list are the 70tbp Damen Stantug 3011s Dian Kingdom and Atlantis, the 83tbp, Kooiman-built AHT Sea Atil (originally Norne) and finally the 71tbp Damen Stantug 2909 Sea Vanquish (originally MTS Vanquish).
Jifmar expansion
The 14 vessels joining Jifmar from Seacontractors are a mix of Neptune Eurocarrier workboats, Damen Shoalbuster tugs and a six-vessel series of 28tbp Delta 2500 tugs built between 2006 and 2010 by IHC Delta Shipyard, Sliedrecht and Damen Shipyards, Gdynia/Hardinxveld.
Jifmar’s fleet is diverse to say the least and other than the managed Canopée comprises mainly smaller tugs and associated workboats. reflecting its gradual expansion over a relatively short period of time with company acquisitions adding to its extensive portfolio of vessels.
Incorporated in 2005, within five years Jifmar had 14 vessels, its fleet expanding in 2017 by around five vessels following acquisition of the small French workboat/crew boat operator VDC Offshore.
In 2018 and 2019, mergers with Scottish workboat owners North West Marine and Delta Marine saw establishment of Jifmar Subsea Alba in 2022 and Jifmar Scotland in 2023, based in Oban.
With operations in Scotland, both companies were particularly active in the aquaculture and offshore renewables markets providing Jifmar with a presence on the Scottish west coast via North West Marine and with Delta Marine’s activities, in the remote and harsh environmental conditions of Shetland.
This added another nine high-spec workboats to Jifmar’s fleet, including of note the 33m Damen RSV 3315 utility vessel Voe Vanguard, its fleet standing at around 40 vessels by 2020.
Jif Artemis is one example of the Neptune Eurocarriers in Jifmar’s fleet
The year 2023 saw what to date has arguably been the French operator’s biggest expansion move with acquisition of the workboat activities of Acta Marine. The move encompassed all of the 26 workboats along with crews, totalling 200 employees of the Dutch company founded in 1970.
Following the acquisition, Acta Marine focused on its walk-to-work vessels while Jifmar continued Acta’s previous workboat activity under the brand Acta by Jifmar, created to ‘facilitate the comprehension to our clients’.
After the first year of integration, Acta by Jifmar became Jifmar BV the company saying at the time that with Acta Marine Workboats, Jifmar would become the world’s largest independent operator of workboats.
With a fleet of more than 40 additional vessels now at its disposal including DP workboats, tugs, crew transfer vessels, survey vessels and barges from Acta, which Jifmar described as “one of its biggest competitors”, it now has around 70 vessels at its disposal operating under six separate brands.
