Founded in 1980 as a state-owned company, Tug Malta began its operations with just three tugs that were acquired from two private towage operators. These operators both became private shareholders along with others in Tug Malta, when their respective businesses were taken over and consolidated under the auspices of the new Company. Not before long the fleet was replaced and additional, more modern and powerful tugs were acquired. Until the late 1980’s, the Company’s operations principally focused on harbour activities within the Grand Harbour where the Island’s ship repair facilities are located. Thereafter and thanks to the establishment of the first transhipment hub for the Mediterranean region at Marsaxlokk, Tug Malta experienced an exponential increase in demand for towage services rendering the Company’s activity in this important transhipment port and logistics centre at the heart of its operations. In 2007, the Rimorchiatori Riuniti Group acquired the Maltese Government shareholding in Tug Malta after the Genoa based Group had been declared as the successful proponent in a competitive process launched by Government aimed to privatise the Company. A few months later, in January 2008, the Group became 100% shareholder in Tug Malta when all remaining shares then held by the private shareholders, were ultimately also acquired by the Rimorchiatori Riuniti Group. The involvement of Rimorchiatori Riuniti Group heralded another important milestone for Tug Malta marking further acquisitions of newly built tugs. It has also enabled the Company to venture into the off-shore sector and permitted commercial and technical knowhow transfer to take place.
The involvement of Rimorchiatori Riuniti Group heralded another important milestone for Tug Malta marking further acquisitions of newly built tugs. It has also enabled the Company to venture into the off-shore sector and permitted commercial and technical knowhow transfer to take place. In April 2023, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA, through its wholly owned subsidiary SAS Shipping Agencies Services Sàrl, acquired 100% of the share capital of Rimorchiatori Mediterranei S.p.A., an international leading towage operator active in Italy, Malta, Singapore, Malaysia, Norway, Greece and Colombia, from Rimorchiatori Riuniti. Today Tug Malta is owned by Med Tug Spa, a 100% company owned by the MSC Group. Through this acquisition, MSC continued to confirm its willingness to further improve towage service efficiency across all harbours in which it operates. Med Tug Spa operates in over 20 major Italian and international ports through over 160 tugs and employs over 1100 people.
Tug Malta is proud of its history of achievements as its past is today’s platform for the Company that paves the way for further successful challenges. The Company is a proud member of the International Salvage Union (ISU) and an active member of the European Tug Owners’ Association (ETA).
