What Moran Towing Corporation does

Moran Towing Corporation is a privately held U.S. maritime services company founded in 1860 and headquartered in New Canaan, Connecticut. The company operates a fleet of more than 100 tugboats (including the largest Z-drive tug fleet in North America at 49 vessels) and 14 oceangoing barges across 17 ports on the U.S. East Coast, Gulf Coast, and Puerto Rico, plus operations in Mexico. Moran executes approximately 37,000 ship assists annually — roughly one-third of all U.S. ship assists — and is the leading provider of marine services to LNG import/export terminals in North America, including Cove Point, Freeport, Elba Island, Lake Charles, and Costa Azul. The company is owned by the Barker and Tregurtha families following a 1994 management-led acquisition, with Edward (Ted) Tregurtha serving as President and CEO.

The business is organized around five operating lines. Ship assist/towage generates the bulk of activity and revenue via per-assist service fees at each port. LNG terminal operations provide tanker escort, docking assistance, and standby support under long-term enterprise contracts. Marine transportation moves 50-55 million barrels of petroleum and chemicals annually via a fleet of articulated tug-barges (ATBs) and tank barges, and 2.9+ million short tons of dry bulk (coal, fertilizer, grain, cement, etc.) annually. Moran Environmental Recovery (MER) — a wholly-owned subsidiary employing ~950 people — provides environmental response, industrial cleaning, commercial diving, and emergency management services through additional brands including Global Diving & Salvage, Mainstream Commercial Divers, O.E. DuRANT, and Coleman Supply. Capital intensity is significant: a recent $200 million ATB investment and a 16-tug newbuild program through 2026 underscore a continuous fleet modernization posture, supported by Tier IV engines, LEV emissions certification, electronic chart systems, and Starlink connectivity on new vessels.

The go-to-market is direct enterprise sales from each of the 17 port offices, which are staffed 24/7. Pricing is published in port-specific Schedules of Rates, Terms & Conditions — no aggregate pricing is publicly disclosed. Customer mix is enterprise and diversified across LNG terminal operators, refiners, chemical manufacturers, electric generators, agricultural suppliers, the U.S. Coast Guard, and port authorities. The company holds ISM, TMSA, SIRE, ABS, and AWO RCP certifications, which constitute a meaningful regulatory barrier to entry. The business model is a hybrid of per-assist service fees, transportation transaction fees (per barrel / per ton), and professional services revenue from MER, with growth funded entirely through operating cash flow and private capital — no external funding rounds are disclosed.

Name

Moran Towing Corporation

Legal name

Moran Towing Corporation

Website

https://morantug.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1860

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Moran Towing Corporation is a privately held U.S. maritime services company operating the largest Z-drive tug fleet in North America across 17 ports, providing ship assist, LNG terminal support, petroleum and dry bulk marine transportation, and environmental recovery services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Harbor and Marine Transportation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Water Transportation (483), Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Navigational Services to Shipping (488330)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Terminal & Shipyard Towage (Intra-Port/Facility Moves) (TLAHAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Salvage Support Towage (Refloating/Wreck Removal Assistance) (TLAHAHAH), Pollution Response & Environmental Salvage (Oil Spill, HAZMAT) (IMAJANAF), Heavy Lift & Marine Recovery (Cranes, Lift Barges, Rigging) (IMAJANAC)

Keywords

• Harbor tug services
• Marine transportation
• Ship assist towing
• LNG terminal services
• Bulk barge shipping

Headquarters

HQ city

New Canaan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ship Assist Services: Moran provides ship docking and assistance services for vessels entering and leaving ports. This includes harbor tug services, escort operations, and docking assistance. The company performs approximately 35,000-39,000 ship assists annually.
2. LNG Terminal Services: Moran provides marine services to LNG terminals including tanker escort, docking assistance, standby support and related services at multiple terminals in the US and Mexico.
3. Petroleum and Chemical Transportation: Moran transports crude oil, finished petroleum products, and chemicals using its fleet of ATBs and tank barges. The company transports over 50-55 million barrels annually.
4. Dry Bulk Transportation: Moran transports dry bulk cargo including coal, agricultural fertilizers, raw sugar, gypsum, limestone, cement, scrap metal, steel coils, wheat, corn and rice using its fleet of oceangoing dry cargo barges. Annual volume exceeds 2.9 million short tons.
5. Environmental Recovery Services: Through subsidiary Moran Environmental Recovery (MER), provides environmental, industrial, mechanical, commercial diving and emergency management services.
6. Ship Chandlery Services: Through subsidiary O.E. DuRANT, provides ship chandlery, provisions, deck/engine/cabin/galley/bonded stores, line boat and launch services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Moran Towing Corporation operates a fleet of tugboats and barges providing harbor ship-assist and vessel escort services at 17 U.S. ports, coastal transportation of crude oil, petroleum, chemicals, and dry bulk commodities, and marine services for LNG import/export terminals. Through its subsidiaries Moran Environmental Recovery (MER), Global Diving & Salvage, Mainstream Commercial Divers, and O.E. DuRANT, the company also delivers environmental response, commercial diving/marine construction, and ship chandlery services.

Product overview

Moran Towing Corporation is a maritime services company offering a comprehensive suite of harbor and marine transportation services. Core offerings include ship assist/towage services from 17 ports (over 100 tugboats performing 37,000+ ship assists annually), LNG terminal operations at 7 terminals across the U.S. and Mexico, dry bulk marine transportation (5 vessels, 15,000-27,000 tons), and petroleum/crude transportation (9 ATBs + 3 tank barges, 55+ million barrels annually). The company operates subsidiaries including Moran Environmental Recovery (environmental/industrial/diving services), Global Diving & Salvage, Mainstream Commercial Divers, and O.E. DuRANT ship chandlery. Supporting services include comprehensive safety training programs, the Moran Center for Learning web platform, and the Navigation Skills Assessment Program (NSAP) for mariner professional development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Moran Environmental Recovery (MER): Integrated environmental, industrial, mechanical, commercial diving and emergency management services subsidiary.
• Global Diving & Salvage
• Mainstream Commercial Divers
• O.E. DuRANT Ship Chandler & Line Boat Service
• Moran Center for Learning (MCL)

Products and services

• Ship Assist / Towage Services Harbor towage and ship docking services operated from 17 ports along the U.S. East Coast, Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. Moran operates over 100 tugboats performing approximately 35,000-39,000 ship assists annually, serving container ships, tankers, bulk carriers, military vessels, and cruise ships.
• LNG Operations & Ventures Marine services for LNG import/export terminals including tanker escort, docking assistance, standby support, and related services at multiple terminals across the U.S. and Mexico (Costa Azul LNG, Cove Point LNG, Elba Island LNG, Freeport LNG, Lake Charles LNG). Moran operates the largest fleet of tractor tugs in the U.S.
• Petroleum Products Transportation Coastal transportation of crude oil, finished petroleum products, chemicals, liquid fertilizers, caustic soda, and water using a fleet of 9 articulated tug-barges (ATBs) and 3 conventional tank barges ranging from 40,000 to 160,000 barrels capacity. Moran transports over 50-55 million barrels annually.
• Dry Bulk Transportation Coastal transportation of dry bulk cargo including coal, petroleum coke, agricultural fertilizers, raw sugar, gypsum, limestone, cement, scrap metal, steel coils, wheat, corn, and rice. Fleet of 5 oceangoing dry cargo vessels ranging from 15,000 to 27,000 tons operating along the US Atlantic coast, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean basin. Annual volume exceeds 2.9 million short tons.
• Moran Environmental Recovery (MER) Environmental, industrial, mechanical, commercial diving, and emergency management services delivered through a wholly-owned subsidiary employing nearly 950 people across North America. Serves utilities, railroads, shipping lines, port facilities, municipalities, and industrial companies.
• Global Diving & Salvage Marine services including complex project management, commercial diving, marine casualty response, and environmental services. Founded in 1979, with offices in Washington, Alaska, and California. Wholly-owned subsidiary of Moran Environmental Recovery, LLC.
• Mainstream Commercial Divers

Quantifiable outcome

• Performs approximately one-third of all ship assists in the United States annually (35,000+ ship assists)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• MAPONY/NJminorOthers · 20 May 2026Moran Towing President & CEO Ted Tregurtha to be inducted into the 2026 International Maritime Hall of Fame at MAPONY/NJ's 32nd annual dinner at Chelsea Piers in New York City.
• Bisso Towboat Co., Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2025Acquired by Moran in October 2025. Founded in 1890, Bisso is known for its modern fleet of ASD tractor tugs and focus on reliable operations in the New Orleans and lower Mississippi River region. United two historic, family-owned maritime leaders.
• Crowley Engineering ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2022Crowley Engineering Services designed the 86'X36' Z-drive tugboats contracted for Moran in 2022. Design partnership for next-generation tugboat fleet.
• Moran Environmental Recovery (MER)coreOthers · 1 January 2019In 2019, MER became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Moran Towing Corporation. Formed originally as a joint venture in 1998 with Turecamo Maritime acquisition, expanded in 2007 with new partners, MER provides environmental, industrial, mechanical, commercial diving and emergency management services. Nearly 950 people strong.
• Global Diving & Salvage, Inc.majorOthers · 1 January 2019Wholly-owned subsidiary of Moran Environmental Recovery, LLC. Founded in 1979, a leader in marine services with offices in Washington, Alaska, and California. Provides commercial diving, marine casualty response, and environmental services. Acquired by MER in 2019.
• Mainstream Commercial Divers, Inc.majorOthers · 1 January 2019Wholly-owned subsidiary of Moran Environmental Recovery, LLC. Full-service commercial diving company providing construction, maintenance, salvage, vessel inspections, freshwater mussel surveys, and diver-operated dredging services. Routine projects at nuclear, hydroelectric, and coal-fired facilities nationwide.
• Puerto Rico Towing and Barge CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Acquired by Moran in 2015, based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This acquisition added Moran's 17th port location, expanding operations to Puerto Rico.
• Turecamo MaritimemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1998Acquired by Moran in 1998 along with several Turecamo affiliated companies. This acquisition expanded Moran to 14 US ports including Charleston and Savannah. Turecamo's expertise and fleet were integrated into Moran operations.
• Master Boat BuilderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaster Boat Builders of Coden, Alabama builds tugs for Moran including the William E Moran (RApport 2800 series), new generation tugs measuring 92 feet with over 80 metric tons of bollard pull. This is Moran's primary ship assist tug builder.
• Robert Allan Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRobert Allan Ltd. designs Moran's tugs including the RApport 2800 series ASD Tractor tugs. Provides naval architecture and engineering services for vessel designs.
• Gulf LNG Tugs Joint VenturemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture for LNG tug operations at Port Arthur, LLC. The Jill was delivered as the sixth and final vessel in a Rapport 2800 tugboat series. Both tugs scheduled for Gulf LNG operations delivery in Q1 2026.
• O.E. DuRANTmajorOthersWholly-owned subsidiary of Moran Towing Corporation, part of Moran Environmental Recovery's Response Services group. Headquartered in Wilmington, NC with additional location in Charleston, SC. Provides ship chandlery, provisions, stores, line boat and launch services with over 100 years of maritime supply experience.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Crowley Maritime Corporation: Privately held Jacksonville-based marine solutions provider offering ship assist, LNG transport, petroleum and chemical distribution, and salvage—directly overlapping Moran's core harbor services and transportation segments across many of the same East/Gulf Coast ports.
• Kirby Corporation: Houston-based publicly traded inland marine transportation company operating the largest tank barge fleet in the US. Directly competes with Moran in petroleum and chemical barge transportation across Gulf Coast and inland waterways.
• McAllister Towing & Transportation: Family-owned New York-based tug operator providing ship assist, escort, and transportation services on the US East Coast. Directly competes with Moran at overlapping East Coast ports including New York/New Jersey.
• Bouchard Transportation Co. Long Island-based tug and barge operator with one of the largest US flag oil barge fleets. Competes with Moran in petroleum transportation and harbor services along the US East Coast and Gulf.
• Foss Maritime Company: Seattle-based tug and marine services company operating on the US West Coast, Hawaii, and the Gulf. While primarily Pacific-focused, it competes with Moran in harbor services and is owned by Saltchuk, providing a comparable family-owned strategic profile.
• Vane Brothers Company: Baltimore-based marine transportation company providing tug and barge services, petroleum transportation, and bulk cargo shipping in the Mid-Atlantic. Directly competes with Moran at Baltimore, Norfolk, and other Chesapeake ports.
• Reinauer Transportation Companies: Staten Island-based tug and barge operator specializing in petroleum and chemical transportation along the US East Coast. Directly competes with Moran in ship assist and ATB petroleum transport, particularly in New York Harbor.
• Donjon Marine Co. New Jersey-based marine services provider offering salvage, marine construction, and heavy lift. Directly competes with Moran's MER subsidiary and Global Diving & Salvage in emergency response and wreck removal.
• T&T Salvage: Houston-based marine salvage and emergency response company. Competes with Moran's Global Diving & Salvage and MER in oil spill response, wreck removal, and casualty response across the Gulf Coast.

Broad incumbents

• Saltchuk Resources: Seattle-based diversified parent of Foss Maritime and other marine/energy logistics businesses. Comparable private, family-controlled maritime holding structure and a broader portfolio that includes tug operations competing with Moran's West Coast-adjacent services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/morantug
• Facebookfacebook.com/morantowingcorporation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/572263

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Moran Towing Corporation