HIBAPRESS – Mohamed Zariouh
In an important strategic step, the management of tugboat services and maritime assistance in the Nador West Med port has been assigned to an international alliance consisting of "Boluda Towage" and "Marsa Maroc", after an international tender was held.
This initiative comes within the context of the accelerating dynamic witnessed by the maritime transport sector in Morocco, and embodies the Kingdom's ambitious directions in strengthening its logistical infrastructure on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The concession period is twenty years, starting from the last quarter of 2026, where the project aims to develop the port and enhance its position as a major driver of maritime transport in the region. This alliance will have a pivotal role in modernizing tugboat and maritime assistance services, which contributes to ensuring the smooth flow of ships and raising maritime safety standards. This alliance will result in the establishment of a joint subsidiary between the two parties to manage the license and operate maritime services, where this initiative will witness a significant investment in the purchase of four modern, high-powered seagoing tugboats, with a pulling power of up to 80 tons. The cost of these investments has been set at about 45 million euros, which reflects the size of the partners' commitment to providing distinguished maritime services according to the highest standards. As for the partnership, the capital of the new company will be distributed so that the French "Boluda Towage" retains 51%, while "Marsa Maroc" owns 49%, which reflects a participatory model that combines the global experience of the French group and the strong national positioning of the Moroccan group. This alliance is expected to contribute to enhancing the logistical performance of the Nador West Med port, to become one of the leading ports in the Mediterranean Sea. Through this project, "Marsa Maroc" seeks to develop its maritime unit and strengthen its position as a key player in this vital sector, which enhances Morocco's ability to compete regionally and internationally in the maritime transport sector.
