Seacor Holdings Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., announced today the sale of its U.S. harbor towing operations and assets from its Seabulk Towing Holdings Inc. subsidiary to E.N. Bisso & Son Inc., New Orleans, and Bay-Houston Towing Co., Houston.
E.N. Bisso will acquire all of Seabulk Towing’s operations in Florida and Alabama. The transaction includes 12 harbor towing vessels, five of which are advanced Rotortugs.
With this acquisition, the fifth-generation family-owned harbor tug business will own and operate 34 harbor tugs at 10 locations from Louisiana to Florida. Currently, E.N. Bisso provides ship assist/harbor tug services in four ports: New Orleans; Gulfport, Miss.; Port Canaveral, Fla.; and Palm Beach, Fla.
Bay-Houston will acquire eight vessels that operate in Texas along the Sabine Neches Navigation District and in the Port of Lake Charles, La. The fifth-generation family-owned business has been assisting ships calling ports along the Texas Gulf Coast since the late 1800s. The acquisition will increase the company’s fleet to 34 tugs.
“E.N. Bisso and Bay-Houston are two industry leading harbor towing providers supported by many decades of safe and reliable operations,” Eric Fabrikant, CEO of Seacor Holdings, said in a statement. “They not only offer our people and assets long-term homes, but also ensure the continuation of high-quality service for our customers.”
“Acquiring an industry leading platform in these markets is exciting for E.N. Bisso and enables us to enhance our services in Florida and expand into Alabama,” said Matt Holzhalb, president and CEO at E.N. Bisso. “Not only are we growing our fleet with the addition of new, differentiated assets like the innovative advanced Rotortug, but we are thrilled to welcome such high caliber team members to the E.N. Bisso family.”
“This acquisition expands Bay-Houston’s ability to service our customers across more Texas and Louisiana ports,” said Philip Kuebler, president and CEO at Bay-Houston. “We look forward to providing both existing and new customers with a smooth transition and serving as a valuable partner for years to come.”
Seabulk will continue to own and operate a fleet of tugs and barges in support of its Caribbean terminal and bunkering operations, including the KSM joint venture with partner Kotug International B.V.
The transaction is expected to close in late 2023, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions.
Seacor Holdings is a portfolio company of American Industrial Partners, a diversified holding company with interests in domestic and international transportation and logistics assets. American Industrial Partners manages approximately $16 billion on behalf of its limited partners.
