Rimorchiatori Riuniti takes over Augustea’s towage arm

Rimorchiatori Riuniti will take over Augustea Holding’s subsidiary Augustea Imprese Marittime e di Salvataggi in a deal worth some €75m ($85m). Following this agreement due to be finalised in the coming days, the Genoa-based shipping group led by the Delle Piane and Gavarone families will take control of a fleet of 16 tugs deployed in the Sicilian ports of Augusta, Catania and Pozzallo, plus four ocean going tugs. Augustea Imprese Marittime e di Salvataggi is also active in Venezuela with two tugs offering services to one of the country’s main coal terminals. With this deal the group chaired by Lucio Zagari and led by his son Raffaele Zagari as ceo will be able to focus on dry bulk and offshore maritime transport activities.

On the other hand Rimorchiatori Riuniti with this take over will consolidate its market position in the Italian harbour towage business operating now, alone or through joint ventures with other entities, in the ports of Genoa, Salerno, Ravenna, Ancona, Pescara, Termoli, Ortona, Vasto and Trieste with a fleet made up of 100 tugs. Rimorchiatori Riuniti and Augustea will remain both involved in offshore and deepsea towing services respectively with Finarge and Augustea Ship Management.

Raffaele Zagari commented on the deal saying: “The offer received from Rimorchiatori Riuniti group will make it possible for us to concentrate future development strategy to strengthen our market position in dry bulk and ocean going tugs where several opportunities are emerging due to the present crisis time”.