Mayor Aboutaleb Opens New Head Office Kotug Smit Towage

KOTUG SMIT TOWAGE was founded on 7 April 2016 following the merger of the European harbor towage services of KOTUG and SMIT. After the start, more business units were physically combined and accommodated in the ‘Las Palmas’ office building in Rotterdam. Bringing together the departments and sharing their joint expertise creates the advantages of synergy and partnership, and enables the company to further shape its ambition of ‘providing customized services’.

"We are delighted that KOTUG SMIT TOWAGE has chosen Rotterdam as its base”, said mayor Aboutaleb. “With its rich maritime history, this new company is willing to make connections to achieve its growth ambitions and combine forces for even better quality. This strategy seamlessly fits in with the investments in the port of Rotterdam. Together with the Port of Rotterdam Authority, the maritime sector and the municipality, we address themes like sustainability, the new economy and a smart approach to the future through constant innovation.”

The decision to base the head office in Rotterdam was strategic: “Rotterdam’s central location in north-western Europe allows us to optimally support our operational activities in 11 ports and our regional offices in Antwerp and Hamburg. Rotterdam is the biggest port in Europe, where businesses in the maritime cluster strengthen each other with innovative concepts. With the connections of the Municipality of Rotterdam and our strategic partners, including the Port of Rotterdam Authority and the nautical service providers, KOTUG SMIT TOWAGE can further expand its sustainable partnerships at European level,” says René Raaijmakers, CEO of KOTUG SMIT TOWAGE.

After the opening, mayor Aboutaleb was given a tour of the office, during which he was able to talk to staff about the economic developments in the European ports, the activities being undertaken to continue the company’s international growth and about the operational integration processes. The visit ended with a tour of the hybrid tugboat ‘RT Evolution’.