Newly incorporated Greek joint venture, Greek-Euro Towage Maritime Company (GMC), of Rimorchiatori Riuniti, Fratelli Neri and Rimorchiatori Laziali has acquired an 80% stake in Zouros Group.

Rimorchiatori Riuniti is an operating holding company active in the harbor, offshore and shipping sectors, controlled by private Genoese families long active in the maritime industry. Fratelli Neri, which provides harbor towage and related maritime services, has been owned and operated by Livorno’s Neri family since the 18thc. Rimorchiatori Laziali is the leading company in the Cafimar Group and the licensee for towage services for Civitavecchia harbour. The three have a combined fleet of 200+ tugs active throughout the Mediterranean and the Black Sea as well as in Latin America.

Based on the key ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki and owned by the family of the same name, Zouros is one of Greece’s principal harbor towage service providers. It has a fleet of 14 vessels with a combined bollard pull of 604 tonnes and 47,000 bhp, comprising Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vessels, ocean-going and harbor tugs and freight and personnel-carrying launch boats.

Zouros retains the remaining 20% stake, with the two companies’ fleet of tugs to be brought together under their joint operational responsibility.

Watson Farley & Williams has advised GMC in the deal.