The genesis of the Group goes back to 1922, when Rimorchiatori Riuniti SpA started to operate a number of tugboats rendering harbour towage services in the busy and commercial Italian port of Genoa. Since the company’s origins to-date, the company moored and assisted ships of all types and sizes, in and out of the oil and container terminals of the Genovese port and under all kinds of traffic and weather conditions. It also provides fire-fighting assistance, oil pollution and environmental control and safety to vessels requiring salvage assistance.

From Genoa, the Company has gradually spread its fleet to other Italian and international ports specialising worldwide in other diversified activities such as the provision of assistance to oil platforms, oil pollution containment, deep-sea towage services of ships and any kind of floating craft.

Since the 1980s, Rimorchiatori Riuniti expanded its operations and marshalled its resources under the Finarge subsidiary to support offshore oil and gas exploration, development and production including towing and anchor handling for drilling rigs and equipment, and provided assistance needed for other specialised services in the oil and gas energy sector. In this sector, the Group is very active in Rio de Janiero – Brazil.

Through its subsidiary Crystal Pool S.r.l , Rimorchiatori Riuniti also operates in the bulk carrier, chemical and containers markets whilst having an office presence in several port cities around the world including Helsinki, Moscow, Riga and Malta. Furthermore through the successful acquisition of Tug Malta, Rimorchiatori Riuniti also managed to take advantage of the Company’s strategic location in the Mediterranean, in order to expand and establish a foothold in the central Med basin and the North African off-shore market.

In 2014 the Company purchased 50% of Gesmar S.p.A, leader in the harbour towage service in the Adriatic sea.  Rimorchiatori Riuniti Group today represents the largest Italian towage operator.

The shareholding fabric of the Rimorchiatori Riuniti Group is that of a well-knitted family group with deep roots in the three mainstay operations of offshore, shipping and harbour towage. It is a global Group that has geographical market spread and international network of clients and industry stakeholders that represent a considerable source of business opportunities.

The stewardship of the Group lies with a strong board of directors with diverse industry and professional background profiles. Two members of the Rimorchiatori Riuniti Group executive board namely Dott. Gregorio Gavarone and Ing. Riccardo Biale also sit on the board of Tug Malta Limited along with Mr. John E. Sullivan – Chairman and fellow directors Dott. Alberto Delle Piane, Dr. George Abela, Dr Richard Camilleri and Messrs Mario Mizzi , Dott. Giovanni Dipasquale and Tonio Depasquale.