Harbor Star

What Harbor Star does

Harbor Star Shipping Services, Inc. is the leading integrated maritime service provider in the Philippines, incorporated in 1988 (originally as Seatows, Inc.) and headquartered in Makati City. The company operates a fleet of more than 60 tugboats, barges, and specialized vessels, and assists more than 5,500 vessels per year across the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Its service portfolio spans seven core lines: harbor assistance, towing (regular and emergency, including deep sea), lighterage, ship salvage and oil spill abatement, dredging, diving and underwater marine maintenance, and general engineering and construction. Following its 1998 rebrand and subsequent 2015 expansion into construction and energy projects, Harbor Star now also delivers PCAB-accredited building, infrastructure, and power plant construction work, including government road and port projects.

The business is asset-heavy and operations-driven, with service delivery performed directly by company-crewed vessels deployed across multiple Philippine ports and other Asian locations. Harbor Star maintains a 24-hour emergency response hotline and positions itself as the holder of the largest private inventory of salvage and oil spill equipment in the Philippines, strategically distributed across Manila and other provinces. Revenue is generated through service contracts on a project or contract basis, with customers including international shipping lines, Philippine port operators (notably ICTSI), government agencies, and power plant operators.

Harbor Star is a publicly listed company on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE: TUGS) and holds an extensive portfolio of regulatory accreditations and certifications: MARINA domestic shipping accreditation, PCAB contractor's license, PhilGEPS registration, ISO 9001:2015 (quality), ISO 14001:2015 (environmental), and ISO 45001:2018 (occupational health and safety) certifications from DNV GL, plus ABS and Orient Register of Shipping in-water survey accreditations. The company is led by President Geronimo P. Bella, Jr. (in role since 1998) with a board structure that includes Executive, Audit, and Corporate Governance committees. Headcount is in the 501-1,000 range.

Name

Harbor Star

Legal name

Harbor Star Shipping Services, Inc.

Website

https://harborstar.com.ph

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Harbor Star Shipping Services is the leading integrated maritime service provider in the Philippines, operating 60+ tugboats and specialized vessels to deliver harbor assistance, towing, salvage, lighterage, dredging, diving, and construction services to vessel operators, port operators, and government clients across the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Marine Cargo Handling (488320)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Harbor Towage (Ship Assist & Berthing/Unberthing) (TLAHAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Terminal & Shipyard Towage (Intra-Port/Facility Moves) (TLAHAHAI), Coastal/Sea Towage (Long-Distance Towing of Vessels/Barges) (TLAHAHAE), Marine Terminals & Cargo Handling Infrastructure (RoRo, Bulk, Container) (IMAFAJAF)

Keywords

• Harbor tug services
• Marine salvage operations
• Ship towing services
• Dredging services
• Lighterage operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Makati

HQ country

Philippines

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Maritime Assistance Services: Harbor assistance services providing guidance and support to vessels entering and exiting ports, ensuring compliance with safety regulations and efficient maneuvering. The company assists more than 5,500 vessels per year throughout the Philippines.
2. Towing Services: Regular and emergency towing services for maritime operations throughout the Philippines, including deep sea towing capabilities
3. Lighterage Operations: Cargo transfer services between vessels and shore using tug and barge combinations, transporting various commodities
4. Ship Salvage Services: Expert recovery of distressed vessels, wreck removal, firefighting, and oil spill abatement and recovery services
5. Construction Services: General engineering and construction works including engineering design, investigation and structural assessments, building and infrastructure constructions, structure rehabilitation, power plant construction, government road and port projects

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Harbor Star Shipping Services provides harbor assistance and vessel towing, lighterage and cargo handling, ship salvage and emergency response including oil spill containment, dredging, diving and marine maintenance, ship management, and marine construction. The company operates a fleet of 60+ tugboats, barges, and specialized vessels to serve shipping operators, port users, and government clients in Philippine waters, handling more than 5,500 vessels per year.

Product overview

Harbor Star Shipping Services, Inc. is the leading integrated maritime service provider in the Philippines offering a comprehensive suite of maritime and construction services. The company operates more than 60 tugboats, barges, and specialized vessels throughout the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Its service portfolio is organized around seven core offerings: Harbor Assistance (vessel navigation and docking support), Towing (regular and emergency maritime towing), Lighterage (cargo transfer between vessels and shore using tug and barge), Salvage (ship recovery and oil spill response with the largest private salvage equipment inventory in the Philippines), Dredging Services (underwater excavation and marine construction), Diving & Marine Maintenance (underwater inspections, repairs, and maintenance), and Construction (general engineering, infrastructure, and building works accredited by PCAB). The company recently expanded into energy and construction sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Harbor Towing and Vessel Assistance
• Lighterage and Cargo Handling
• Ship Salvage and Emergency Response
• Dredging Services
• Diving and Marine Maintenance
• Ship Management Services
• Marine Construction

Quantifiable outcome

• Assists more than 5,500 vessels per year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

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

• DNV GLcoreTechnology or Integration · 15 August 2021DNV GL provides ISO certification services including ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 management system certifications for Harbor Star's quality, environmental, and occupational health and safety standards.
• Department of Trade and Industry (PCAB)coreOthers · 18 October 2018Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board under DTI provides contractor's license accreditation enabling Harbor Star to conduct general building and engineering construction works.
• Department of Budget and Management (PhilGEPS)coreOthers · 24 August 2018DBM's Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System registration allows Harbor Star to participate in government procurement opportunities.
• American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)coreTechnology or Integration · 20 June 2018ABS provides Certificate of Recognized External Specialist In-Water Survey, recognizing Harbor Star's capability to conduct in-water surveys.
• Orient Register of ShippingcoreTechnology or Integration · 2 March 2018ORS provides Certificate of Accreditation on Underwater Survey, enabling Harbor Star to conduct underwater survey services.
• Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)coreOthers · 25 May 2017DOLE provides Certificate of Compliance on Occupational Safety and Health Standards, verifying Harbor Star's compliance with labor safety regulations.
• Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)coreOthers · 11 August 2016MARINA provides Certificate of Accreditation on Domestic Shipping Business, authorizing Harbor Star to operate domestic shipping services.
• International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 June 2014Major port operator customer recognizing Harbor Star's contribution to port operations with Plaque of Appreciation.
• Marine Environmental Protection CommandminorOthers · 27 May 2013MEPCOM recognition for environmental protection contributions and participation in marine conservation initiatives.
• Barangay Banoyo, San Luis, BatangascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013CSR partnership for the Adopt-a-Mangrove program, working with the barangay community and Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resource Office (PGENRO) for mangrove restoration and coastal protection.
• People Management Association of the PhilippinesminorOthers · 28 November 2008PMAP membership for HR and people management best practices sharing.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Smit Lamnalco (Royal Boskalis Westminster): One of the world's largest dedicated harbor towage and terminal service operators, active across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. Highly comparable business model (ship-assist, berthing/unberthing, terminal towage) and similar end customers (port operators, oil & gas terminals).
• PSA Marine: Subsidiary of PSA International providing harbor craft services (towage, pilotage, vessel support) primarily in Singapore and growing across Asia. Closely aligned with Harbor Star's ship-assist, berthing, and port-support service profile.
• Korea Ocean Tug (KOTC): Korea's national tugboat and salvage operator providing ship-assist, ocean towage, and salvage services across Northeast and Southeast Asia. Directly comparable in service lines and customer types, with similar dependence on port and oil terminal clients.
• Fairway Marine & Logistics Services: Singapore-based regional harbor towage operator with operations across Southeast Asia. Comparable tugboat fleet, vessel-assist service offering, and customer base of port operators and shipping lines in the same geography Harbor Star serves.
• Svitzer (A.P. Møller - Maersk): Global harbor and terminal towage operator with the largest dedicated towage fleet in the world. Directly competes in ship-assist and ocean towage with vessel operators and ports across Asia-Pacific, including the Philippines' regional waters.

Broad incumbents

• Vallianz Holdings: Singapore-based offshore marine services company operating a fleet of vessels supporting oil & gas and port operations across the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Provides comparable harbor-craft and offshore-support services to similar end customers.
• PACC Offshore Services Holdings: Singapore-listed offshore support and vessel operator with a regional fleet serving Southeast Asian ports and offshore operators. Overlaps with Harbor Star in lighterage, towing, and offshore support, though with a broader offshore focus.

Regional players

• Bukhari Group (PT Bahtera Indojaya Perkasa / Bukshi): Indonesian harbor towage and offshore vessel operator. Operates tugboats and support vessels across Indonesian and regional waters, directly competing with Harbor Star for cross-border salvage, towing, and emergency-response contracts in Southeast Asia.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harbor-star-shipping-services-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Harbor Star