Ocean & Coastal Towing – Pacific Maritime Magazine

Ocean and Coastal Towing: A Bustling Business

From rescuing vessels in distress to moving millions of tons of cargo, the tugboat, tow boat and barge industry on the West Coast has been bustling with business activity in recent years, a trend that doesn’t appear be easing anytime soon. To prepare for that demand, West Coast towing companies have been investing in new vessels and equipment, many of them built with sustainability in mind, and grow the workforce. Here’s a look at what various coastal ocean and coastal towing companies are doing in the region and beyond. Crowley Crowley Maritime has experienced growth over the last 12 months,…

Ocean and Coastal Towing News: 2022 In Review

Maritime shipping volumes stalled at some West Coast ports in 2022, but even still, there remained a large need for ocean and coastal towing services to guide commercial vessels of all sizes to shore. In fact, according to an analysis released in March by the global firm Technavio Research, the tugboats services market is expected to grow by $2.42 billion between now and 2026, with 33% of that growth originating in North America. The report, titled “Tugboats Services Market by Application and Geography—Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026,” states that the market will witness a year-over-year growth of 14.24% in 2022 and…

Ocean & Coastal Towing: Crowley’s Making Moves

The ocean and coastal towing industry is evolving, and one of the companies being aggressive in its efforts to keep up with the times is Crowley Maritime. Crowley, which is based in Jacksonville, Florida, has a significant presence on the West Coast, including locations in Alaska, California and Washington state. The company and its various business arms and subsidiaries, including Crowley Fuels, Crowley Shipping, Jensen Maritime, Crowley Logistics and others – have been engaged in many moves — both literally and figuratively — over the past year-plus. Crowley’s marine services group operates one of the more established fleets of ship…