Boluda Towage sets up Lithuanian company as it explores Klaipėda port

Global tugboat operator Boluda Towage has established a company in Lithuania as it explores possible operations at the Port of Klaipėda.

Boluda Towage Lithuania was registered in Vilnius on September 14 by the group’s Dutch entity Boluda Finance. The new company is headed by Boris Szczesik, who also manages Boluda Towage operations in Germany and Egypt.

Klaipėda Port CEO Algis Latakas said port representatives had held several meetings with Boluda over the past two to three months. The company had been examining the port and the possibility of providing tug services there.

No contract or final agreement has been reached.

Klaipėda currently has two tug-service operators, Towmar Baltic and Klasco Towage Assistance. Latakas said Boluda could potentially become a third operator, although it is not yet clear whether it would compete across the market, target a particular segment or primarily serve vessels linked to its partners.

The establishment of a Lithuanian company therefore does not yet amount to a confirmed market entry, but it moves Boluda’s interest in Klaipėda beyond preliminary discussions.

Boluda Towage operates more than 850 vessels in 232 ports across Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania and Latin America.

A new entrant of that scale could alter competition in a small but essential part of Klaipėda’s maritime services market.