KOTUG International

What KOTUG International does

KOTUG International B.V. is a Rotterdam-headquartered, family-owned maritime services company founded in 1911, operating globally across five service pillars: Towage, Subsea, Intelligence, Training & Consultancy, and Maritime Excellence. The company serves oil & gas majors (Shell, Perenco, EEPGL, Total Energies, OQ), port authorities (TasPorts, Abu Dhabi Ports/Safeen, Trans Mountain), mining operators (Fortescue), and logistics customers (Cargill, Van Zoelen) through long-term charter contracts, JV partnerships, and direct service agreements. Operations span 14+ countries via regional hubs in the Netherlands, Australia, UAE, Bahamas, Brunei, Canada, Guyana, and Gabon.

The company's core proprietary technology portfolio includes the Rotortug (patented triangular propulsion configuration invented in 1999), the E-Pusher Series (modular zero-emission inland shipping tugs with swappable energy containers from Shift Clean Energy, achieving 25%+ faster construction and 30% lower draft), and OptiPort (an AI-driven SaaS platform for port dispatch optimization operating since 2017). Additional innovations include KOTUG EYE AR-based remote support, patented Drone Line Transfer with object recognition, and a Zero-Emission Heat Recovery System that reduces shore power consumption by 50%. KOTUG operates through a mix of wholly-owned subsidiaries (Rotortug B.V., KOTUG Gabon S.A., MARSOL, CTC B.V. acquired September 2024), joint ventures (KOTUG Canada with Horizon Maritime, KOTUG Seabulk Maritime, KOTUG CityBarge), and technology partnerships (Sanmar, Robert Allan, Kongsberg, Capptions).

The revenue model is primarily recurring long-term vessel chartering and managed services contracts, supplemented by professional services (training, consultancy), ship management fees, and emerging SaaS revenue from OptiPort. The company added technical ship supply and procurement (CTC B.V.) to its Maritime Excellence pillar in 2024. KOTUG holds ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, and 27001 certifications, maintains the world's only ISO 9001 certified tug training company, and is led by second-generation CEO Ard-Jan Kooren. Recent milestones include the May 2026 launch of the world's first large dual-fuel methanol-powered escort tugs (SD Aisemaht and SD Qwiy Aanitsa Sarah) with the Sc'ianew First Nation in Canada.

Name

KOTUG International

Legal name

KOTUG International B.V.

Website

https://kotug.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1911

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

KOTUG International is a Rotterdam-based, family-owned maritime services company operating globally across towage, subsea, training, and intelligence. It serves oil & gas, port authorities, and mining operators with proprietary Rotortug vessels, E-Pusher electric inland tugs, and the OptiPort AI dispatch platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Towage Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Navigational Services to Shipping (48833), Marine Cargo Handling (48832)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Towage & Berthing Coordination (Tug/Line Handling Dispatch) (TLAHAFAC), Tug Chartering, Brokerage & Dispatch Services (TLAHAHAL), Port Operations Control Center / Port Call Orchestration (TLAHAFAI), Chartering & Heavy-Lift Vessel / Barge / RoRo Solutions (TLACAIAJ), Underwater/Port Infrastructure Security (Dive Teams, Hull & Pier Inspections) (BPAKALAH)

Keywords

• Maritime towage services
• Harbour towage operations
• Offshore terminal support
• Vessel chartering services
• Maritime training consultancy

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vessel Chartering: Long-term chartering and operation of tugs, escort vessels, and support vessels for oil & gas, port, and mining operations worldwide.
2. Training & Consultancy Services: Professional tug training, simulator courses, and consultancy services for port authorities, shipping companies, and maritime operators. Delivered in-house, on-site, or online.
3. Subsea Operations & Maintenance: SPM operations, asset integrity management, hose management, and marine services for offshore terminals.
4. Ship Management: Technical and operational management services for third-party vessel owners including crewing, maintenance, and procurement.
5. Technical Ship Supplies (CTC): Procurement and supply of deck, engine, cabin, and galley stores for vessels, through acquired subsidiary CTC B.V.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KOTUG International provides maritime towage and support services globally, operating a fleet of harbor tugs, offshore/terminal tugs, escort tugs, and inland pusher vessels under long-term charter contracts. The company delivers specialized subsea services (SPM operations, hose management, asset integrity), AI-driven fleet optimization via the OptiPort SaaS platform, professional tug training and consultancy, and third-party ship management. Its proprietary technologies include the Rotortug triangular propulsion design, the E-Pusher modular electric pusher series, dual-fuel methanol escort tugs, and patented drone line transfer systems.

Product overview

KOTUG International is a maritime services company offering a portfolio of towage, subsea, intelligence, training & consultancy, and maritime excellence solutions. The core products include the E-Pusher Series (modular electric inland shipping vessels), Rotortug and E-Kotug (advanced tug designs), and OptiPort (AI-powered dispatch optimization platform). Supporting these are modules including KOTUG Safety Application, KOTUG EYE remote support, Drone Line Transfer, Zero-Emission Heat Recovery System, Analytics & Reporting, and TugVision fleet management. The company also provides SPM Operations & Maintenance through its MIRMO program, ship management, fast crew transportation, and training services. KOTUG operates globally with recent launches of the world's first dual-fuel methanol escort tugs in Canada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rotortug: Patented highly maneuverable tug design with triangular propulsion configuration featuring two forward azimuthing thrusters and one aft, known for superior maneuverability, high redundancy and strong indirect towing performance.
• E-Pusher
• CityBarge
• KOTUG Seabulk Maritime (KSM)
• CTC
• KOTUG Training
• OptiPort

Products and services

• Harbour Towage Harbor tug assistance for vessel berthing, unberthing, and movement within ports. Serves port authorities and shipping companies requiring reliable harbor operations, including emergency response capability.
• Offshore & Terminal Towage Specialized towage services for offshore oil & gas terminals, LNG facilities, and FPSO operations. Includes escort towage for tankers and high-bollard-pull vessel operations for major energy companies such as Perenco, Shell, EEPGL, and Total Energies.
• Chartering & Salvage Vessel chartering services for offshore operations, salvage, and specialized marine projects including towing of large topsides and emergency response for oil and gas operators.
• Inland Shipping (E-Pusher) Zero-emission inland waterway transportation using the modular E-Pusher electric pusher tug series powered by swappable energy containers. Serves cargo operators (e.g., Cargill for cocoa bean transport between Port of Amsterdam and Zaandam) and city logistics customers for construction materials and waste transport.
• SPM Operations & Maintenance (MIRMO) Comprehensive Integrity, Reliability and Availability assurance program for offshore buoy terminals. Includes diving teams, vessels, operations crew, hose management, and emergency pipeline repair services. Serves offshore terminal operators such as OQ (Musandam) and Total Energies (Congo).
• Asset Integrity Management Asset integrity management services for offshore terminal infrastructure, ensuring regulatory compliance and operational reliability of marine assets.
• OptiPort AI-powered SaaS platform for port and terminal towage optimization. Provides berth scheduling, port call optimization, dispatch planning, route optimization, and fleet management using real-time data. Serves port authorities, terminal operators, and towage companies seeking AI-driven dispatch optimization.
• Tug Master Training Professional tug training programs including simulator-based courses, onboard training, and online virtual learning for crews ranging from new members to experienced captains. Includes joint pilot-tugmaster training. Delivered in-house, on-site, or online through partnerships with maritime academies worldwide.
• Maritime Consultancy Maritime consultancy services leveraging KOTUG's century of operational expertise for port authorities, shipping companies, and maritime operators on towage operations, safety, and efficiency.
• Towmaster Services Provision of experienced KOTUG Towmasters for specialized towage projects, including the recent transfer of 27,000+ tonne topsides from Haugesund to Pioneering Spirit vessel for Allseas.
• Ship Management Third-party technical and operational ship management services including crewing, maintenance, procurement, risk management, and vessel accounting for offshore industry vessel owners worldwide.
• Fast Crew Transportation Fast crew-supplier vessels (FCS) purpose-built for offshore terminal operations, featuring Axe Bow design, 30-knot economic speed, VSAT Wi-Fi, and passenger accommodations for crew change operations.
• CTC Technical Ship Supplies Procurement and supply of technical maritime supplies including tank cleaning, gas freeing equipment, deck, engine, cabin, and galley stores for vessels. Serves vessel owners and operators through direct procurement and logistics services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% reduction in shore power consumption and CO2 emissions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability9 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CTC B.V.coreOthers · 1 September 2024Acquisition completed September 2024. Rotterdam-based supplier and procurement company specializing in technical maritime supplies including tank cleaning, gas freeing equipment. CTC continues to operate independently with 13 professionals joining KOTUG. Expands service portfolio in maritime supplies and procurement.
• Horizon MaritimecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2021Joint venture KOTUG Canada Inc. with Horizon Maritime for terminal and harbour towage services across Canada. Partnership selected by Trans Mountain for escort tug operations supporting the Expansion Project. Includes meaningful Indigenous partnership with Sc'ianew First Nation.
• Sc'ianew First Nation (Beecher Bay)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership providing dedicated berthing facility at Beecher Bay along Trans Mountain escort route. Partnership includes employment opportunities, commercial activities, and traditional knowledge integration for coastal operations. Vessels SD Aisemaht and SD Qwiy Aanitsa Sarah named in honor of community members.
• Seabulk Towing, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKOTUG Seabulk Maritime (KSM) joint venture carries out towage operations at Buckeye Bahamas Hub, the largest petroleum products terminal in the Western Hemisphere.
• Shift Clean EnergycoreTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of PwrSwäp swappable energy containers for E-Pusher vessels. Provides modular ESS battery systems (70kWh to 6MWh) charged through clean power generation. Partnership includes battery swapping stations along Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp route.
• Sanmar ShipyardscoreTechnology or IntegrationTurkish shipyard constructing the world's first dual-fuel methanol-powered escort tugs (SD Aisemaht and SD Qwiy Aanitsa Sarah) - 44-metre vessels with 115-120 tonnes bollard pull.
• Robert Allan Ltd.coreTechnology or IntegrationMarine naval architects designing the dual-fuel methanol escort tugs with advanced propulsion architecture including mechanical cross-link system for optimized load sharing.
• Circle Line Logistics B.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for KOTUG CityBarge B.V. to make cities more liveable by restoring inner-city waterways for transport of garbage, construction materials, and retail products. Includes development of 'metro service over water' logistics concept.
• STC GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTraining partner in the Netherlands providing simulator facilities and maritime training programs.
• South African Maritime Training Academy (SAMTRA)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStrategic partnership for maritime training services in Southern Africa.
• Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership with Port Training Institute of Egypt for training services to Egyptian and Arab Maritime professionals.
• Maritime Training Institute (MTI) KarachiminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStrategic partnership with training institute in Pakistan for exclusive training of (tug) Masters, ships crews and Pilots by certified TTC trainers at MTI Karachi facilities.
• Abu Dhabi Maritime AcademyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStrategic partnership for maritime training and professional development in the Middle East region.
• InnoWaTr ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU Interreg North Sea Region project (April 2023 - June 2026) with 25 partners from 5 countries. KOTUG role includes testing collaborative Freight Flow Coalition approach, developing remote controlled E-Pusher, and demonstrating zero-emission shipping solutions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Wilson Sons: Brazilian port and maritime logistics group with one of the largest harbor towage fleets in South America. Comparable to KOTUG's harbor and terminal towage business in a complementary geography.
• Fairplay Towage: Harbor towage specialist active in European ports including Hamburg and Rotterdam. Comparable on harbor towage operations and competing with KOTUG at the same European hubs.
• McAllister Towing: Family-owned US East Coast towage operator. Comparable as a privately held multi-generational harbor towage company with deep blue-chip customer relationships.
• Bukser og Berging: Norwegian tug and offshore support operator with strong North Sea presence. Comparable on offshore terminal towage and oil & gas support services.

Direct peers

• Smit Lamnalco: Joint venture between Royal Boskalis Westminster and Smit Marine (now part of SAAM Towage) focused on harbor towage and offshore terminal services. Highly comparable to KOTUG's offshore/terminal towage pillar.
• Boluda Towage: International towage operator with a large harbor and offshore terminal tug fleet across Europe, the Americas and Africa. Direct competitor for the same enterprise contracts KOTUG targets.
• SAAM Towage: Resulting entity of SAAM Smit Towage following the merger of SAAM and Smit Lamnalco's towage activities. Direct port towage peer with deep Americas and Asia-Pacific presence.
• Svitzer: Global towage leader and Maersk subsidiary operating a fleet of 400+ vessels across 100+ ports. Closest direct comparable to KOTUG's harbor and terminal towage business and its sustainability transition.
• Vroon: Dutch-based shipping group with a towage and offshore support vessel division. Comparable on European harbor towage and offshore vessel support, including similar North Sea oil & gas exposure.

Broad incumbents

• Wärtsilä Marine: Broader marine technology and services incumbent offering dual-fuel engines, decarbonization solutions and digital fleet optimization that overlap with KOTUG's OptiPort, methanol propulsion and emissions-reduction propositions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kotug-international
• Xx.com/kotug_towage
• Facebookfacebook.com/KOTUGtowage

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 KOTUG International