MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) acquired the subholding of the Rimorchiatori Riuniti group active in the port towing business Rimorchiatori Mediterranei (65% owned by Rimorchiatori Riuniti which is owned by the Genoese families Gavarone and Delle Piane and 35% Deutsche Asset Management, of the Deutsche group Bank).
The Genoese company Rimorchiatori Mediterranei, with a turnover of around 200 million, is the main operator in the Italian port towage sector, the second in the Med Sea where it holds long-term concessions in various ports and the third in the world , with a fleet of approximately 170 vessels active in Europe, Asia and South America. Last June it acquired 100% of Keppel Smit Towage Private Limited and Maju Maritime Pte Ltd from Boskalis, two of the largest providers of port towage services active in Singapore and Malaysia.
Without the port towage sector, the Rimorchiatori Riuniti group remains active above all in the shipping business with dry bulk carriers and container ships, while the fleet of offshore vessels (managed through Finarge) was sold to the Brazilian Cbo a year ago.

MSC entered the trailer sector with the aim of vertically integrating the supply chain, after becoming a leader in container ships (with Mediterranean Shipping Company), in port terminals (with Terminal Investment ltd) and having invested in trains with Medway and in logistics. terrestrial with Medlog.
Last year MSC entered the port of Antwerp, Belgium, through the Swiss newco Medtug. Then in Gioia Tauro it acquired 100% of the towing company Con.Tug (previously 50% owned), a company that until 2026 has concession services in the Gioia Tauro airport. These are two strategic ports of call for the Northern European and Mediterranean markets.

MSC is also one of the main international operators in the cruise business with the subsidiary MSC Cruises and is also interested in air and rail transport. Failing the purchase of Ita Airways in alliance with Lufthansa, the group has created its own airline active in cargo which will debut next year and is aiming to purchase Italo.




2021 built tug MED VEGA during her delivery voyage, here berthed at Grand Harbour, Malta back to 10th December 2021
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Published – Sunday 23rd October, 2022