New-look towage services in Colombian ports

A new partnership has entered the Latin American maritime sector following a strategic merger between two of the region’s leading towage and maritime services companies.

Coremar Coltugs Towage (CCT) is a world-class operator that will serve the Caribbean – and Pacific – ports of Colombia.

The partner companies bring wide experience and expertise to the venture. Coltugs is a subsidiary of the Chile-based Ultratug Group, one of the oldest business groups in the region, with a presence in seven Latin American countries. The Coremar Group’s tugboat business unit is part of a company regarded as a pioneer in Colombia’s maritime services sector, having been in operation for over 60 years.

International

The integration process began in early 2016 with a view to offering towage services in line with international standards. In particular, the new venture aims to meet the growing demands of the Colombian market, arising from the country’s geostrategic location and the dynamics of the towage industry and foreign trade.

The new company employs a total of more than 160 people and operates 17 tugs, most of them azimuth stern drive (ASD) units with top-of-the-line equipment, a bollard pull of over 60 tonnes and an average age of eight years.

CCT can supply everything from traditional services to more complex maneuvers. Its portfolio includes berthing and unberthing, port assistance, monobuoy operations, assistance in LNG terminals, escort, towage, fire-fighting, salvage and assistance in port construction.

The new company also has the potential to supply immediate coastal operations and ocean towing services when needed, with robust equipment ready 24/7 in the Caribbean and Pacific ports of Colombia.

In addition, the company provides key services for operators of containerships, bulk carriers, general cargo vessels and tankers in all Colombian ports, including oil terminals in Coveñas and Pozos Colorados (Ecopetrol). These services are provided by trained personnel on board and onshore.